Overview
- A hiker on the Mount Wilson trail in the Angeles National Forest was charged by a bear in a close encounter captured on cellphone video.
- The video shows the hiker walking toward the bear and ringing bells to scare it off, which appeared to agitate the animal and trigger the charge.
- Eric Chiu, who filmed the encounter, said the group backed away, climbed uphill, and hid behind bushes until the bear passed, with no injuries reported.
- Chiu said the bear trailed the hikers for about a quarter mile before moving on, and everyone, including the animal, made it home safely.
- The National Park Service advises people not to run, to stay calm and speak in a low voice, and to avoid loud noises like yelling or bells, as bears can outrun humans and may react to sudden clamor; reporters also note more bear sightings in Los Angeles County foothill communities.