Tourists come face-to-face with a giant grizzly bear

In the US state of Alaska, a simple hike turned into an unexpectedly dangerous situation for three tourists. They suddenly came face-to-face with a giant grizzly bear on a mountain trail. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

The incident Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory took place in the area. As the tourists rounded a bend, they encountered a grizzly bear nicknamed “Scuba Sue.” The bear was searching for salmon that were expected to arrive in the river at that time.

According to the tourists, they followed the safety rules provided by park rangers, spoke to the bear in a calm voice without panicking, and slowly backed away to give it space.

“We were very scared. But we remembered the advice the rangers gave us and tried to stay calm,” said tourist Tanya Thompson.

After a few minutes of tension, the grizzly bear continued on its way without harming the people.

Dr. Michelle Lynn Taller noted that because salmon are arriving in the river later than usual this year, bears are hungry, which could make such encounters even more dangerous.

Experts from the US National Park Service recommend that in such situations, one should not run, avoid sudden movements, speak to the bear in a calm voice, and give it space whenever possible.