A bear can go from disinterested to dangerous in an instant. Do you know what to do if you're attacked by a startled grizzly?
Transcript
When hiking in bear country, make your presence known loud and clear.
Any grizzly bears in the area then have a chance to notice you and move away. And everyone stays safe.
Because a startled grizzly, is a dangerous grizzly.
But if you surprise a grizzly bear and it attacks, what should you do?
Should you... run away?
play dead?
fight back?
The answer is B: play dead.
Running away isn't a smart idea. Grizzlies can sprint at 35 miles an hour, faster than any human.
Fighting back against an animal that can stand 8 feet tall and reach 1000 pounds is a serious mismatch.
Your best option is to play dead.
Fall on to your belly and wrap your hands around the back of your neck.
[Stephen Herrero SOT]: Bear charging, bear charging, he's not going to stop, get down, get down.
As this bear expert demonstrates...
[Stephen Herrero SOT]: Okay, so you've got your neck...
...this position protects your vitals. The bear will lose interest after a few swipes and move away.
[Stephen Herrero SOT]: That's it, neck protected, face protected, about as stable as you can get.
You'll come out bruised and bloody...but you'll come out alive.
And that's how you survive, a grizzly bear attack.
