Bear Charges Hiker on California Trail and the Video Is Terrifying
A man in California had a terrifying encounter with a bear while hiking in the Los Angeles National Forest.
In a TikTok video shared by ABC7, a man hiking the Mount Wilson Trail in California jumped and jingled bells when the bear stood in front of him. In the video captured by another hiker who witnessed the moment, the bear then suddenly charged at him.
@abc7la Terrifying footage captured the moment a hiker came face-to-face with and was charged by a brown #bear on a #hikingtrail in SierraMadre. Eric Chiu said he was walking the #MountWilsonTrail when he encountered a bear and tried to warn a nearby hiker about the bear, who then tried to scare the bear away. Chiu and the other hiker were not injured.
original sound - ABC7LA - ABC7LA
The outlet confirmed that another hiker captured the moment after the hiker in the video tried to warn them about the bear, then tried to scare it away. The hiker who took the video confirmed that he hid in the bushes until the bear left, and even caught additional footage showing the bear hanging out around the trail after the encounter.
Despite the scary moment, neither the hikers nor the bear was hurt.
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Users online commented on the importance of understanding bears and their behaviors, "If you're going into bear country."
"I've hiked there so many times and have never seen a bear [there]," one person commented, while another also noted, "This is why I stay out of the mountains."
What to Do If You See a Bear While Hiking
There is a safe method to use if you find yourself face-to-face with a bear when you're on a hike.
According to Lions, Tigers, and Bears Rescue, bears are "intelligent animals that naturally want to avoid conflict," and it's absolutely possible to have a peaceful encounter with a bear if you "handle the situation calmly and appropriately."
However, any wrong move can cause a dangerous situation, especially if a bear feels threatened.
Before entering bear country, it's also important to understand which trails may have bears and know the signs to look out for, like "overturned rocks, claw marks, droppings, and tracks."
Make sure food is stored properly and that you make your presence known to the bears as well, by making noise like "clapping, singing, calling out, or talking loudly, particularly when close to dense vegetation, berry fields, or a stream." It's also recommended to stay in large groups since "Bears are less likely to encounter a large group of humans."
If you do find yourself alone and face-to-face with a bear, the rescue recommends remaining calm, backing away slowly, and making yourself appear larger. Actions like "stay your ground and talk to it in low tones" will "minimize nervousness" in the bear and let them know you're not a threat.
In a group, it can also be more effective if you make yourself look bigger to the bear, which can "scare the bear away."
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 12:53 PM.