Bear Runs Up To Teen Hiker, Sniffs Him & Walks Away: “I Was Terrified”

photo credit: ABC News / Facebook

Family Hiking Encounters Wild Bear

A family hiking in the Rainier National Park captures video of a wild bear walking right up to Jasmine Bartley’s teenage brother and everyone freezes in fear of what might happen next.

The Bear Approaches Teenager

It was on Sunday, October 6th (2019) and it happened so fast that a woman standing behind Jasmine gasped out loud. Everything was captured on camera and can be seen in the video below.

“I couldn’t even breathe. I was terrified,” Jasmine told  ABC News. “I didn’t know what to do. It was the first time seeing huge wildlife. And I was just scared. Gut-wrenching, honestly.”

It appeared the bear was just checking him out, probably hoping he had some food to give him. Fortunately, he wasn’t carrying any food on him and just stood completely still as the bear sniffed him for a few seconds.

Once the bear realized there was nothing there to be eaten he continued on his journey. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police captain Jeff Wickersham said that it was very unusual for the bear to do that.

“When the bear walked up to the one hiker and got right at their feet, there’s not much you can do at that range and that proximity,” Jeff said.

Jeff also mentions that its good Jasmine’s brother didn’t run, because animals like bears have the instinct to chase anything that runs from it. Everyone was very relieved that it didn’t attack them and everyone walked away safe.