A recent video circulating online shows a cluster of visitors standing on a boardwalk at Mount Rainier National Park, phones raised, as they crowd within just a few feet of a black bear feeding on berries in a nearby bush. The video is an excellent example of how quickly wildlife viewing etiquette can break down when a bear appears close to a trail.
Mount Rainier is home to a healthy population of black bears, which range from lowland forests up into subalpine meadows throughout the summer months as they forage on berries, grasses, and insects. Black bears are the largest omnivores in the park, with males weighing 150-500 pounds and females 90-250 pounds, and their shaggy coats can range from black to brown to honey-colored. Sightings like the one captured in this video aren’t especially rare but we certainly hope the blatant disregard for park policy regarding wildlife was.
Park regulations require visitors to maintain a distance of at least 50 yards (150 feet) from any wildlife, and the rule of thumb is that if you can’t “cover” the animal with your thumb held at arm’s length, you’re too close. This distance not only protects people from surprising or provoking an animal, and it protects bears from becoming habituated to humans, a pattern that often ends badly for the bear.
To stay safe around bears at Mount Rainier:
- Never approach or attempt to feed a bear, no matter how calm it appears.
- Use a telephoto lens or binoculars instead of walking closer for a photo.
- Stay aware of your surroundings and be prepared to give large animals even more space than the minimum. nps
- If a bear is near a trail or road, back away slowly and let it move on undisturbed.
Wildlife encounters are one of the highlights of visiting Mount Rainier — but keeping that distance is what keeps both people and bears safe.
