Footage of a grizzly-bear encounter is circulating online after Paddy Hackett and his dad were trekking through some backcountry (location undisclosed). The younger Hackett appears to have gotten ahead of his elder, so he stopped to rest and take a nap. When he awoke, he discovered two grizzly bears nearby, at one point as close as 10 feet away. Then, he spotted his dad coming up the ridge, unaware of the animals sharing the space.
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“I visit these mountains annually to document grizzly behavior at high altitudes. It’s one of the most remote places in the lower 48,” Hackett wrote in his Instagram post sharing the video of his encounter. “[. . .] My dad was with me this [year]. We were climbing a steep ridge when I reached the top and laid down on my back, staring into the cloudless sky. [. . .] Then I heard a sound from behind that I’ve grown very familiar with- the deep guttural breathing of a grizzly bear.”
Hackett’s instinct was the stay still, speak calmly, and use his forward-facing camera to monitor the curious animals behind him. When his dad came into view, Hackett tried to warn him without being too startling. Thankfully, the encounter, now between two humans and two bears, remained calm.
Watch what happens after a man wakes up to a couple of grizzly bears nearby below (or see it here).
Header stock image by Andre Boysen / 500px/Getty Images
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