You won’t believe how close this bear came to the rider. – By Katie Fogel
While the bear in this scenario quickly lost interest in the riders, that hasn’t been the case for all mountain bikers in similar situations. Last June, a mountain biker was killed by a grizzly bear while riding outside of Glacier National Park in Montana. But bear attacks on mountain bikers—let alone people in general—are very rare.
So what are you supposed to do if a bear charges after you? According to the National Park Service, the best thing to do is stay calm and avoid sudden movements. Most bears just want to be left alone, and will “bluff” an attack by charging and turning away at the last second. The NPS also recommends carrying bear spray when exploring deep into the backcountry.