She was lucky, very lucky. Hard to tell if the dog helped or if the griz was after it vs. her. I suspect the dog being there might of saved her.
Yes, that was intense.

I can't really tell, but it seems like the bear was really going after the dog and not her.

Also, there seems to be a large number of cars in the area, I wonder why she didn't shout out for help.

Final observation, I'm glad that woman had a cell phone because that bear is going to get doxxed heavily because of this. Plus, if it went really badly there would have been a record for Werner Hertzog to watch and counsel the family against not seeing.

To quote the immortal Bruce Lee “ Why doesn't somebody pull out a .45 and, bang, settle it?”

She should have been armed and shots should have been fired. That could have very well gone in another deadly direction.

I think a 45-70 or some bear spray would of come in handy.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
I think a 45-70 or some bear spray would of come in handy.

Despite all the hype online, bear spray is not effective. Yes, it beats nothing, but where a gun can be carried, I would have one. Even a small caliber gun.

Here is one article that discusses the faulty info on bear spray and the reasons behind it: https://www.ammoland.com/2024/...rms-in-bear-attacks/

I lived in grizzly country for 5 years, I've been 30' from a grizzly in the wild, and I've been 35' from a polar bear in the wild.

Things she did well on:

Very loud and vocal

stood her ground several times and spun to keep bear in front of her

Things she did poorly on:

She broke cardinal rule #1 of not being prepared (i.e. carrying bear spray and/or firearm while hiking). Better to have a deterrence and not need it than need it and not have it.

Both her and the dog kept breaking cardinal rule #2 in a bear encounter - don't turn your back on a bear as it kicks in their prey drive. You're supposed to walk backwards if you retreat.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

First thing I always do when encountering a deadly threat is to whip out my cell phone and start recording. Yes, indeed.

Dogs and bears hate each other. If the bear had come on any harder I'd have let the dog off the leash.

It appears to be after the dog. I think her continuing to retreat contributed to it following her. Her aggressive voice and manner probably saved the dog from attack.

quote:

Originally posted by Loswsmith:
I can't really tell, but it seems like the bear was really going after the dog and not her.

Yes, I'm thinking that bear has eaten a dog or two before.

Her guardian angel must be exhausted!! Hard to say if the dog being there saved her or caused her to be targeted

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
First thing I always do when encountering a deadly threat is to whip out my cell phone and start recording. Yes, indeed.

Yup, I don't understand that, unless she was already texting or something. I walked around the corner at a friends house in the Washington Cascades, startled a black bear trying to pull a trash bag out of a trash can.
It ran away and climbed a tree.
Last thing on my mind was pictures or video.
The owner of the property said it was somewhat common, he did not need pictures .

This was in Canada if I read correctly. Not much access to firearms there. Her most likely deterrent would have been bear spray but I have read that sometimes it just angers the bear into a fight.

My answer would be to be armed. Since Canada is not friendly, I wouldn’t have been there. There are plenty of other places in the wild where a person is free to be armed. I think it’s a miracle she wasn’t mauled. She was not in full control there.

Looks to me like baby bear just wanted to play.

Why didn’t the dog bark or snare?

Wonder if this person will change anything moving forward. Or just accept this lucky event as part of normal life.

My younger brother is an experienced hiker.
Over an almost two year period he traveled around the United States and Canada in his adventure van. He visited all the national and state parks.
I asked how he protected himself from aggressive animals, he said Bear Spray. As far as I know he never had to use it.

I don't know how to embed a short. But I just kept hearing in my head "Can I pet that Dawg?!"

~CAN I PET THAT DAWG~

I think I would’ve shit my pants

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
I lived in grizzly country for 5 years, I've been 30' from a grizzly in the wild, and I've been 35' from a polar bear in the wild.

Things she did well on:

Very loud and vocal

stood her ground several times and spun to keep bear in front of her

Things she did poorly on:

She broke cardinal rule #1 of not being prepared (i.e. carrying bear spray and/or firearm while hiking). Better to have a deterrence and not need it than need it and not have it.

Both her and the dog kept breaking cardinal rule #2 in a bear encounter - don't turn your back on a bear as it kicks in their prey drive. You're supposed to walk backwards if you retreat.

Nailed it.
Looked like a youngster, maybe 3-4 years old, curious, attracted to the scent of her dog looping-around but not entirely focused. Best thing was her making a lot of noise confusing the hell out of the bear and giving it second thoughts on what it just came across; WTF is up with the dog and ZERO barking, scared?

BUT, she stopped making noise and we assume she turned her back, fortunately the bear appears to scamper-off into the treelike but, holy hell getting circled a few times by a griz