Grizzly Bear Stalking in Stream Gets Dangerously Close to Wildlife Photographer

It’s important to remember that no matter how adorable wild animals are—they are, actually, wild, and one should keep one’s distance from the creatures in order to remain safe. Every year, there are tragic stories from parks and forests of visitors who failed to take reasonable precautions around wild animals and it ended in tragedy—either the loss of human life, or the loss of the animals. Remember, these wild places are their home and they have every right to be there. It’s humans who are strangers in these places.

This wildlife photographer knows the rules, but he was still surprised when a large grizzly bear came way too close while he was shooting in a river. Running in this situation is actually more dangerous than staying completely still, and trying to look as uninteresting and unthreatening to the giant animal as possible.

In the video, a photographer is sitting on the banks of a stream when a large grizzly bear approaches, wading in the stream only a few yards away. It was an incredible encounter and one that could have easily turned dangerous. Luckily, this photographer knows the best way to behave around bears, and the bear itself seems uninterested in the human watching from the shore.

Related: Grizzly Bear Falls Asleep in Creek While Blowing the Cutest Bubbles

Luckily, the grizzly bear in this video is clearly hunting for fish in the stream by wading through the water, swinging his head from side to side to side as it searches for marine prey. Also, the photographer is making the right decision by staying still and not running from the animal, which may attract its attention and induce it to give chase.

Viewing Etiquette For Bears and Other Wildlife

The National Park Service recommends using a “rule of thumb” when it comes to keeping your distance from wildlife. Hold your arm straight out and give a “thumbs up” sign. If you can cover the animal’s entire body from your view with your thumb, you are probably far enough away. If not, get back!

Remember, you are in the natural habitat of these animals. You are the intruder here, and they do not know if you mean them harm or not.

Bears are unlikely to approach large groups, so there is safety in numbers, but it’s best to keep your distance and allow the bear to pass without notice.

And of course, keep your food wrapped up and safely stowed whenever you’r in bear country.

What To Do if Approached by a Bear

Additionally, make sure you you do not allow pets or small children to wander too close to these animals, and if they do begin to approach you, gather up your pets and children, raise your arms to look at big as possible, and talk to them in a calm tone so they know you are a human and not their usual prey. Back away and do not run or attempt to climb a tree. Bears are both faster than you and better climbers, too.

(PS: This also goes for alligators.)

These same rules apply even if the bear appears injured, or it’s a cub, or it’s an injured cub. Keep your distance and call the authorities.

Bear attacks are rare, but are more likely when bears have been habituated to believe that humans will feed them. Don’t teach them that you are a food source.

They have the streams for that.

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