Watch: Black bear approaches woman walking near California lake
A video captures the moment a young black bear scratched a woman’s leg with its paw near a lake in California.
A teenager from California experienced a close encounter with a black bear and can prove it with a video.
According to SWNS, 17-year-old Kimberly Mendoza was walking with an unnamed friend in the woods near Lake George in Mammoth when they spotted a black bear.
The two tried to back away from the bear, but the path was blocked by fallen branches and the couple did not want to turn their backs on the bear.
In a video taken by Mendoza, the bear can be seen approaching the couple and pawing at the friend. The bear turns around and leaves the couple after the friend smacks the paw away.
The video has been viewed over 4.4 million times on TikTok since its release in late July.
What to do if you encounter a black bear?
According to the National Park Service, bear attacks are rare because bears that approach humans are primarily interested in protecting their food, their young, or their habitat.
The NPS advises that when encountering a black bear, you should remain calm and speak quietly and in a controlled manner so as not to provoke the bear.
If a black bear attacks, the park service advises fighting back—don’t play dead—and trying to get to a safe place as quickly as possible.
