Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Advnture
Advnture
Cat Ellis

See tourists demonstrate the worst possible way to react when encountering a bear

Roaring grizzly bear.

When people encounter a wild bear for the first time, it seems the temptation to get a closer look sometimes overwhelms common sense. A video compilation posted by Instagram account TouronsOfYellowstone last week shows visitors crowding bears, sprinting after them to take photos, and in one case even trying to pet one while it's feeding.

Sometimes the animals ignore this behavior, but occasionally (as with the petting incident) it crosses a line and the animal charges. Thankfully everyone seems to escape without injury, but things could easily have gone differently.

It's not clear where all the clips were filmed, but some appear to have been shot at National Parks and other areas where the dangers of distracting wildlife are clearly posted.

As several commenters noted, deliberately getting close to bears is dangerous to both people and animals. If a bear attacks a human, even if threatened, it's likely to be euthanized for public safety.

If caught, visitors who approach bears risk fines, and even jail time. In 2021, a woman from Illinois was prosecuted for approaching a grizzly and her cubs at Yellowstone.

As the Guardian reported at the time, Samantha Dehring was jailed for four days, fined $1,000, and ordered to make a $1,000 community service payment after pleading guilty to "willfully remaining, approaching and photographing wildlife within 100 yards".

"The park is not a zoo where animals can be viewed within the safety of a fenced enclosure," said attorney Bob Murray. "They roam freely in their natural habitat and when threatened will react accordingly. Approaching a sow grizzly with cubs is absolutely foolish. Here, pure luck is why Dehring is a criminal defendant and not a mauled tourist."

For advice on how to stay safe, see our guides what to do if you meet a bear and wildlife safety: eight tips for unexpected encounters.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.