Proving his might while out in the woods on a snowy day, this hunter scared off a charging bear by simply yelling at it.
Out hunting with his dog and wife, Lena, experienced hunter Ralph Persson of Jamtland heard his dog barking to indicate danger before turning around to see a large Scandinavian brown bear coming out of the dense woods, quickly charging at him and his dog. His wife caught the action, which could have turned out much worse, all on camera: As the bear came out charging on all fours, the man “extended out his arms and bellowed in the animal’s face,” sending the bear scurrying quickly back into the woods.
Most people think to “play dead” if ever faced with a situation like this, but Persson argues against this method, saying he does not trust that defense and learned to scare bears by “watching birds” and crane’s reaction to fold up its wings and chase bears.
“I screamed as much as I could and made myself very big,” Persson told the Hela Halsingland newspaper, as cited in UPI. As an experienced hunter and someone who spends much of his life outdoors, he knew he had to act fast and reacted in the only way he could think of. Of course no one would advise this method, but in this case, it worked.
If you ever find yourself face-to-face with a bear, there are a few tips on how to respond, and it really depends on the type of bear (grizzly, black bear, etc.). But as a general rule, it’s advised to avoid eye contact and slowly move away; never try to outrun a bear!
