Bears

Arguably the top fear among anyone hiking in Alaska is what to do if they encounter a bear.

A recent encounter in Canada's Banff National Park is a chilling reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the need for awareness and preparedness in bear country. The encounter was captured on video and shared widely, sparking a necessary conversation about safety in bear habitats.

One of my favorite animals to view in the wild are bears. Since I was a kid, I loved touring the national parks across the United States for a chance to see a black bear or grizzly in the wild. A few years ago, I moved to Kodiak Island, known as the “Island of Bears”, where I get the immense pleasure of seeing brown bears in the wild all summer.