‘No! Go away!’: Woman walks her husky mix. Then she has a harrowing encounter with a grizzly

A woman's close encounter with a grizzly bear while walking her dog has gone viral online. The shocking video captured the choices she made that possibly saved her and her pet.

In a viral TikTok video with more than 31 million views, Wilderness Escape Adventures (@wildernessescape.alberta) shared the clip and backstory. According to the post, one of the company's clients sent them the video. A representative from the company connected with the woman in the video for the full story.

Per the video's caption, the woman was out for a morning walk with her dog and a cup of coffee when a bear approached them.

The bear appeared to be fixated on her dog. Despite the woman making noises and yelling at the bear, it continued to follow her and at one point even appeared to chase after her dog. Allegedly, the woman was able to scare the bear by throwing her mug. When it darted into the forest, she ran, but it doubled back. She rushed into one of the camp's tents for safety.

What should you do if you encounter a bear?

The wilderness account commended the woman for how she handled the situation.

“Honestly she handled this remarkably well under pressure,” a representative wrote. “She stayed calm, kept moving, used what she had, and her dog stayed controlled the entire time. That composure and that leash are likely what kept this from turning into a tragedy.”

The woman in the video took crucial steps to protect herself and her pet in the situation. But what should a person do if they run into a bear? There are also many other essential tips for staying safe while in grizzly territory. Experts recommend staying calm, speaking in a low voice, and slowly backing away or moving sideways while facing a bear. Avoid running, screaming, making sudden movements, or climbing a tree. These actions can increase the risk of an attack.

@wildernessescape.alberta To be clear, neither I nor Wilderness Escape Adventures was involved in this incident in any way. One of my clients of the week sent me this video, and after it went viral I was able to connect with the lady directly. Here is her story: She had just grabbed her morning coffee spoon still in the mug and stepped outside to walk her dog down the gravel driveway. they were both tired from the previous day hikes so she only planned to be out 5 minutes, just 100 meters from camp. Turned to head back, and two seconds later there was the bear. She nearly didn't pick up that leash in time. The bear was acting different. Curious. Fixated on her dog. She had a gut feeling something was about to happen and hit record. What you see is what unfolded next. That jingle you hear? Not a bear bell it was the spoon in her coffee mug. When the camera starts shaking, that's the moment she threw the mug down the driveway, which spooked the bear into the forest. When she saw him go to investigate it, she ran. She looked back — he was chasing her. She darted into one of the tents at camp, while others nearby yelled and waved their arms as a distraction. She made it inside with her dog and spent the next 15 minutes rewatching the footage until the bear wandered off and chased a moose. The conservation officer who responded didn't even believe it over the phone “A bear circling a pedestrian within 5 meters? That's not real.” His jaw dropped at the footage. Standing on all fours, that bear's head was level with hers and she is 5'2″. In her 3 years in the area with at least 10 grizzly encounters, she had never seen anything like it. Honestly she handled this remarkably well under pressure. She stayed calm, kept moving, used what she had, and her dog stayed controlled the entire time. That composure and that leash are likely what kept this from turning into a tragedy. Credit where it's due. A managed, limited grizzly hunt in Alberta when done responsibly funds conservation, reduces conflict, and keeps bears naturally wary of humans. A bear with no fear of people is a bear that will eventually get put down. That natural distance protects both sides. Something worth considering. Bears are not evil. They are not aggressive by nature toward humans this video proves that. But they are powerful, unpredictable and lethal even when just curious. Never become complacent. She thought nothing could happen in 5 minutes or 100 meters. Lesson learned. And here is the part that stings if she had carried bear spray and used it when he first came too close, that bear would have learned to associate humans with something unpleasant and kept his distance. He never got that lesson. Which means the next person he approaches that boldly may face an even bolder bear. Always carry bear spray it works. And if you love the wilderness but aren't confident out there alone, go with a guide. There is no shame in that, it could save your life. .#wilderness #grizzly #kananaskis #bears #Hiking ♬ original sound – Wildernessescape.adventures

Why do people hunt grizzly bears?

In the video's caption, Wilderness Escape Adventures wrote that “a managed, limited grizzly hunt” could be a good thing.

The company argued that when done responsibly, hunts could fund conservation, reduce conflict, and keep “bears naturally wary of humans.”

Some hunting advocates argue that regulated grizzly bear hunting could reduce conflicts between bears and humans. However, wildlife experts say there is little scientific evidence to support that claim, and many believe targeted removal of individual problem bears is more effective than broad hunting seasons. Researchers also note that because grizzlies are largely solitary animals, hunting may have little impact on the behavior of the wider bear population.

While scientists disagree over whether hunting influences bear behavior, many say more research would be needed to determine whether it changes movement patterns or reduces encounters with people. For now, most wildlife safety experts generally agree that preventing bears from becoming habituated to humans and following established bear safety practices remain the most effective ways to reduce conflict.

Buzz News reached out to Wilderness Escape Adventures via contact form for comment.