Video shows woman's scarily close encounter with grizzly. She says she'd still 'choose the bear.'

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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A woman had a scarily close encounter with a bear while hiking in Montana's Glacier National Park and said afterwards she was lucky to be alive.

But despite the frightening experience, when it comes to the viral man vs. bear debate, she said she'd still "choose the bear."

Amanda Wylie was hiking on a trail at the Glacier National Park on July 4 when she came face to face with a bear in what was her first-ever grizzly encounter, according to the video she shared on TikTok.

Wylie said she had noticed fresh bear tracks in the mud and dug up roots while hiking but saw no immediate threat, so she kept hiking.

"I listen for the birds and smaller animals to warn me of a bigger threat based on their actions," Wylie said in her post.

When she saw a prairie dog leap from her right side to the left side of the trail, she was immediately alerted.

Just then she looked to her right to see a grizzly bear twice her size on "his hind legs, paws up."

No sudden movements

Wylie, who had watched a bear safety video before getting her backcountry permit, knew that any sudden reaction could be detrimental for her, and despite being terrified she did not run.

"I took out my bear spray, got low and backed away slowly from the bear," Wylie said. "I talked to him nice and once I felt a safe enough distance away, I got my phone out to record wondering if these would be my last moments."

The bear then proceeded to follow Wylie "down the trail, off the trail and eventually shook his body, which let me know I could relax a little."

"Once he turned away, I rejoiced, knowing I would live to see another day and have an amazing encounter story to share," Wylie said.

"After all is said and done, l'd still choose the bear," she added.

Video footage captured by Wylie shows the bear walking towards her and she backs away saying: "You're okay. Please don't come here. Thank you. Please go."

Man vs. bear

Earlier this year in May, TikTok account Screenshot HQ asked a group of women if they would rather run into a man they didn't know or a bear in the forest. Out of the seven women interviewed for the piece, only one picked a man.

"Bear. Man is scary," one of the women had responded.

The video went viral on social media with women across the world, echoing the responses given in the original video, writing in the comments that they, too, would pick a bear over a man. The hypothetical question had people split, with some expressing their sadness over the state of the world and others cracking jokes. Some men were flabbergasted.

Man or bear? Hypothetical question sparks conversation about women's safety

What to do if you spot a bear

Montana is bear country and the National Park Service suggests keeping a few things in mind in case of a bear encounter.

Here are some of the NPS' top tips:

  • Talk in a low, steady voice and do not scream or otherwise act suddenly.

  • Make yourself appear as large as possible.

  • If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways while maintaining sight on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is non-threatening to bears.

  • Travel in groups and pick up small children upon sighting a bear.

  • If you encounter a bear in your own yard, do not leave the house. Ensure everyone is secure inside before banging pots or making other loud noises to scare the bear away.

  • If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.

Contributing: Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grizzly bear encounter caught on video at Glacier National Park