A hiker has credited a Scottish comedian's distinctive voice with scaring away a bear after a close encounter on the Pacific Coast Trail.
Bears generally prefer to avoid contact with people, and one of the best ways to avoid a close call is to ensure they know you're coming in advance by making noise and talking to your hiking buddies. Iain McAllister, a retired vet from Edinburgh, was hiking alone and listening to BBC Scotland's Breaking the News podcast on a Bluetooth speaker as an alternative solution.
