A startling video emerged showing a large brown bear charging at a hiker in the Angeles National Forest, located in Southern California. The man in the video, donning a mountaineering suit and hat, chose an unexpected response—he walked toward the bear while waving a bell, seemingly to scare it off.
In a surprising turn, the bear lunged at him, and then the video abruptly ended. This encounter occurred just a few feet away and was filmed by another hiker nearby.
“I thought this person was crazy. I hope nothing happens,” said Erin Chiu, the individual who recorded the incident. “Honestly, I don’t know what was going through his head, because you never expect someone to actually walk towards a bear. I was a little concerned for his safety.”
Chiu mentioned that he hikes the same trail, roughly 16 miles each time, at least three times a week but had never encountered a bear there before. He noted that he and his friends often concealed themselves behind bushes to avoid contact with wildlife.
The hiker successfully backed away slowly as the bear approached. Experts advise that if one happens upon a bear, the most crucial thing is to remain calm—running can provoke the bear to chase, as they can easily outrun humans.
The National Park Service suggests that, if the bear doesn’t perceive a threat, most encounters ultimately end without harm. It’s recommended to stay calm, hold your ground, and speak in a low voice to signal to the bear that you’re human.
Bear sightings are reportedly becoming more frequent in Los Angeles County, particularly in hilly areas like Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Castaic, and Arcadia, where this encounter took place.
