Oftentimes, when you are out hiking, you need to be aware of your surroundings. Not only of terrain and weather but also of local wildlife. Most people are wary of bears, but when looking for them, they keep their eyes on the ground. One photographer shared a warning with hikers, along with photographic proof, that when you are hiking in grizzly bear country, don't forget to look up in the trees, too.
When In Grizzly Bear Country, Don't Forget To Look Up
For the Win shared the hilarious encounter between photographer Brooke Bartleson and a grizzly bear. The photographer was out for a stroll and taking some photos of wildlife when she noticed something interesting. A brown shape was moving up in the trees, and it wasn't a large bird. Instead, a brown bear was settled high up in the branches.
She shared the footage on Instagram. The video shows a grizzly bear high in the tree, just moving about peacefully. Additionally, in the caption, Bartleson mentions the differing opinions surrounding bears in trees. She shared, "I remember being told by a very confident bear biologist that adult grizzlies don't climb trees." Trusting the expert, she believed this to be true, but then admits, "a few months later, I witnessed numerous instances of different adult brown bears climbing trees."
Finally, she shares her love for these curious animals by ending the post, "Just when you think you know everything there is to know, bears go right ahead and prove you wrong. I love that."
The Internet Responds
Although Bartleson appreciates the bears' agility and finds them intriguing, that is not the word that everyone would use. Some people shared how the thought of having to watch the ground and the trees while in grizzly bear country is exhausting. Some argue there is a difference between brown bears and grizzlies, while others find the whole event humorous. Here are some of the comments left under the post.
- "that's..... terrifying."
- "Whenever you tell a ? what they can and can't do, they will say hold my ?."
- "Everybody in Florida knows that bears climb trees - what a weird thing to say......."
- "? I can't imaging hearing that rustle and looking up to see that above me."
- "Well crap. Climbing trees was my grizzly confrontation escape plan. Now we will all just have to stay home on the sofa."
- "Dumb caption. Brown bear are far smaller than Grizzlies."
