The post Watch a Wild Brown Bear Sit Down Beside a Man in a Riverbank Encounter Few People Ever See appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Click here to watch on YouTube

A viral video showing a brown bear calmly approaching a man sitting by a river shocked viewers with its relaxed attitude.

Brown bears are generally larger than black bears and can be especially defensive at close range, particularly when surprised or when protecting cubs or food.

Bear encounters can be terrifying, but they can be avoided with awareness and a calm reaction.

Bears are, simply put, terrifying. We are always warned about how careful we need to be in nature if we encounter one. However, in rare occurrences, bears can surprisingly be pretty chill with humans. One example comes from this YouTube video, in which a brown bear walks up to a human, sits and relaxes for a bit, then walks off and minds its own business. It is a strange encounter, and it left many viewers stunned by how calm the bear was. Read here to learn more about this encounter.

Brown bears can be more dangerous in close encounters because they are larger and may react defensively, but both brown and black bears can be dangerous if they feel threatened.

©Massimiliano Paolino/Shutterstock.com

The video above is a somewhat scary sight, but it has a good ending. A man sitting by a river is suddenly approached by a wild brown bear. The close encounter shows the bear being curious and relaxed, sitting with the man as he simply watches. It’s a shocking sight because brown bears are powerful wild animals, and close encounters can become dangerous if a bear feels threatened. Black bears are often described as more likely to avoid conflict, while brown bears can be more dangerous in a close encounter because of their larger size and their tendency to defend cubs, food, or personal space.

Black bears typically weigh around 200 to 600 pounds. Brown bears, depending on the subspecies, can weigh 400 to over 1,000 pounds, with some individuals exceeding 1,500 pounds. So, while the video depicts a terrifying encounter, the person behind the camera acted wisely. The lack of reaction helped keep the bear calm, signaling that the man was not a threat.

It is commonly advised to stay at least 100 yards (300 feet) away from bears, though exact minimum distances can vary by park or agency.

©Henk Bogaard/Shutterstock.com

Bear encounters are still relatively uncommon, but they can become more likely when bears gain access to human food, garbage, or other attractants, or when people spend more time in bear habitat. Bears are generally shy and solitary animals that avoid humans. However, factors such as food and curiosity may cause them to approach humans. Encounters often happen when bears are attracted to human food or garbage, or when people surprise bears at close range in bear habitat.

If you were to encounter a bear like in the video, there are a few things that you should remember. The man in the video was correct in staying calm and not panicking. Panicking, screaming, or running away can all trigger a bear to become aggressive.

The best plan is to be proactively aware of your surroundings. Keeping an eye out for bears can help ensure that they don’t get as close as in the video in the first place. Putting roughly 300 feet between you and a bear is recommended. If a bear gets close, stay calm, stand your ground, and slowly back away without running. Once at a safe distance, make sure to keep your eyes on the bear while you leave the area. If a bear approaches you, do not run; speak calmly, back away slowly, and be prepared to use bear spray if the bear continues to close the distance. The video above was a very lucky encounter for the man recording.

Click here to watch the video.

The post Watch a Wild Brown Bear Sit Down Beside a Man in a Riverbank Encounter Few People Ever See appeared first on A-Z Animals.