No one wants to come face-to-face with an unwanted intruder in their homes, especially one with four legs.
A man in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada was frightened to find a black bear in his garage while he was charging his electric vehicle, according to video service Storyful.
Video captured the moment when the bear made eye contact with the man, Alex Gold, right before the bear ran straight towards him.
Without a flinch or a scream, Gold kept his cool. In the video, Gold is seen repeatedly yelling “No” while clapping his hands as he backed away from the bear.
Watch man’s close encounter with a black bear
To escape the bear, Gold opens his vehicle and gets in and shuts his doors.
As the bear walks around scoping out Gold’s car, a bear cub appears in the video’s frame.
Gold honks the horn several times to scare off the two bears.
“I’ve met bears before but never as close as it was this time,” Gold wrote in an Instagram post, Storyful reported. “Unforgettable experience!”
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Are black bears dangerous?
Dr. Lynn Rogers, a biologist who studies wild black bears, has gained an understanding of the often-misunderstood creatures.
After studying bears in the wild for over 50 years, Rogers claims that the bears are just like humans in some aspects: territorial. Rogers said that bear attacks occur mostly when they are afraid.
“Most attacks by black bears are defensive reactions to a person who is too close, which is an easy situation to avoid,” Rogers wrote in a blog post on North American Bear Center. “Injuries from these defensive reactions are usually minor.”
What should you do if you see a black bear?
While bear attacks are rare, the National Park Service (NPS) warns that everyone should keep their distance when encountering these huge animals.
Things to remember if you’re attacked by a bear, according to the NPS:
- Brown / Grizzly Bears: If you are being attacked by a brown or grizzly bear, play dead. Lay still on the ground until the bear leaves the area. Do not fight back unless the bear attack persists. Remember to strike the bear in the face to gain the upper hand.
- Black Bears: Do not play dead if you are attacked by a black bear. Run to the nearest building or vehicle that can be locked securely. If you don’t have a place to hide to avoid the attack, fight back. With force, punch and kick the bear in the face and muzzle.
The NPS also suggests people who often visit the woods should always bring bear spray.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads, and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
