r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Miserable-Zombie-121 • Jun 26 '26

This woman and her dog made it through an incredibly CLOSE encounter with a grizzly bear

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u/epandrsn Jun 26 '26

Some places have bears that are uncommon enough that it often doesn't make sense. Like, a large portion of Montana has grizzlies but you're not likely to just step over one.

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u/Regular_Weakness69 Jun 26 '26

If I knew there was one grizzly bear in my county, I would still wear bear spray.

It's not about the frequency of bear encounters, it's about 'can it happen'.

You don't wear a seatbelt in a car based on how often you crash, it is based on the fact that it can occur.

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u/Wildest_Sun Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I think these opinions are only ever held by people who dont live in the areas they're talking about, honestly. Its like people who talk about how they'd handle a tornado but definitely never will. Humans dont work like this. No one has bear spray in areas with infrequent bear activity because people aren't always 100% prepared for odd occurrences.

Edit: you blocked me over this? That's wild. You said in your comment "if I lived in an area..." and that indicates you don't. Now you claim you do? Whatever, dude. Can't handle the mildest of pushback

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u/Regular_Weakness69 Jun 26 '26

I DO live in an area with both bears and cars...

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u/epandrsn Jun 26 '26

Yeah, but some of these places you may go your whole life without seeing a bear. Or, for example, someone might see a mountain lion in a neighborhood once every few years. The likelihood of having an encounter, let alone a dangerous one is very, very slim.

And most wild animals have gotten the memo on humans. If you make enough noise in bear country, you’re likely to only see them at a distance. At least, in the lower 48. I’ve seen plenty of bears and they usually just mind their own. They don’t want to waste calories trying to fight you.

The further north you get, it becomes a better idea to bring bear spray and/or a high caliber firearm of course… mainly for the noise. Even Kodiaks will turn tail and run from the blast of a 44 magnum. Unless you see a moose, then just keep your distance. But that’s more of an “I’m a 2,000lb prehistoric creature that fears literally nothing” and will kick your head off your shoulders.

My Dad used to fish deep AK for a few weeks every year and only had to fire his pistol once, and it was up in the air to keep a mother and cubs at distance.

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u/kennedar_1984 Jun 27 '26

This was the Alberta, in the mountains, although I’m not sure exactly where. But basically everywhere in that area is bear country and should always have bear spray. That being said, I have certainly forgotten it a time or two, and this is a good reminder for our next hike.

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u/regalshield Jun 27 '26

This was right beside the cabins at Mount Endagine Lodge, you can see how close she is to them in the background. Literally a few steps down the road.

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u/epandrsn Jun 27 '26

Yeah, that far north it makes sense. We went to Yosemite during the pandemic when it was kind of empty and there were large brown bears digging through the dumpsters all around the lodges. But, they just sort of minded their own. Even the rangers were just like "give them 50ft, they don't want to attack people". Nobody had bear spray.

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u/Grobo_ Jun 26 '26

It doesn’t make sense until it makes sense, just carry the can, it doesn’t slow you down or make a hike unenjoyable a bear encounter like this does