Ever have that feeling that someone, or something, is following you? Probably one of the most unsettling feelings a human can experience, especially if that something is a 500-pound cinnamon bear. And if you read that and think, "Cinnamon bear... is this guy talking about Teddy Graham snacks?" sorry for the confusion. Though being stalked by an anthropomorphic snack wouldn't be any less terrifying... Cinnamon bears are actually a subspecies of the American black bear, and they're basically just black bears with brown or blondish colored fur. They are commonly confused with grizzly bears, and these hikers that were traversing through Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming initially thought it was a grizzly following them from a distance. Hiking is great and all, but is it worth it? I've been on my fair share of hikes, and I'm starting to question it. Don't get me wrong, I love being in the great outdoors, getting exercise and taking in the grand views. However, I've never been stalked by a wild animal while I'm on a treadmill. Just saying... These Grant Teton tourists were just trying to get some fresh air and take in the sights the national park has to offer. In a way, they really got their trip's worth out of the hike, since they got to see both the beautiful views and a bear that had them on their toes, to say the least. According to the social media post, hikers on the trail banded together and kept moving as the cinnamon bear followed along on the same trail some 20 or 30 yards behind them. They made sure not to make any sudden movements (very smart) so that they wouldn't trigger the wild animal's chase instinct. The bear just kept trailing them, so they finally came up with a risky plan to avoid it. All of the hikers stopped and hid just off the trail, hoping that the bear would pass on by and leave them alone. To quote one of my all-time favorite movies, "That's a bold strategy cotton," and let's see how it played out:
"Saw a grizzly (or cinnamon black?) UP CLOSE today. It was a bonding experience for us - strangers from different countries- as we perched on a boulder beside the trail. The ambling bear was NOT interested in us in the least! All’s well that ends well!" Hiking trails and roads are commonly used by animals as well as people for no other reason than... it's easy to move. Would a bear rather weave its way through the thick forest, or just mosey on down the road? It's often times going to take the road/path, which means run-ins with people are more likely to happen. That being said, black bears are typically not very aggressive, unless they are starving or have cubs nearby. Plus, they have a great sense of smell and are able to detect smells from miles away. They can catch a whiff of an empty bag of chips sitting in your car, and make the journey over to try and get in. Do you think walking slightly off the path really hid you from the bear? Nah... he was just content to mind his own business... as most bears do. Nevertheless, a pretty cool encounter. Getcha self out to Grand Teton National Park if you get the chance. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8iapRfOpvH/?igsh=MXJoaDk5NmpsaDJoOQ%3D%3D
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