The Roar of the Wild

Old sea tales are littered with grander-than-life, imaginative tales of giant sea serpents, krakens, and sirens. While these are often steeped in inaccuracy and conjecture, some of them are founded in reality. The scary thing is, some may not be far from the tales told by sailors when ashore. Retellings of encounters with and sightings of giant squid are staples of a number of different cultures. From the Greek Mythology to Norse Mythology, the giant squid has continued to resurface. There have also been sightings around the world of the monster throughout history. This confirms that the giant squid has been striking terror in those who have seen it for quite some time.

The largest invertebrate on Earth, the giant squid has been recorded coming in at 59 feet in length and weighing nearly a ton. More typically though, these squid will weigh around 450 pounds and measure only 33 feet. While these measurements are indicative of what we know, it is important to bear in mind that we do not have many run-ins to take into account.

Our knowledge of the giant squid is limited primarily by how elusive the animal is. Living at extreme depths of the ocean and preying on fish, shrimp, and other squid, humans rarely encounter living specimens. For some time, this limited our knowledge of the giant squid to washed ashore carcasses. As of late though, scientists have begun to document live sightings. In Japan, the first live footage and imagery was taken of a giant squid. We have now begun to further our understanding of this unique creature.

Giant squid’s bodies are geared for deep-sea hunting. With massive eyes reaching 10 inches in diameter, they have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom which allow them to better sea prey and predators in their dark environment. Squid have eight arms and two long feeding tentacles that allow them to capture and eat food with their parrot-beak-like mouths. The giant squid feeds on fish shrimp, other squid, and potentially small whales. But while squid’s fights with whales are fabled, a National Geographic article on their cousin the colossal squid suggests sedentary feeding. As the study reported on indicates, colossal squid’s metabolic rates and size relative to their prey likely means they live relatively inactive lifestyles—a ten-pound fish lasting them 200 days. This draws to question whether or not squid actively seek encounters with whales.

Squid move through the ocean with the use of small fins and a funnel propulsion system. This system involves the intake of water into the body and its expulsion out the back of the squid. This allows squids to be fairly dexterous in their travel and maneuvering.

While they most likely did not attack and capsize large vessels as purported in ancient tales, there is a good chance giant squid were seen throughout the world. Giant squid larvae are transported via current throughout the oceans and develop into mature animals throughout the ocean. While colossal squid are known to reside solely in arctic waters, giant squid have been found in every ocean.

The giant squid is an animal shrouded in mystery. While encounters have been made throughout history and it has claimed its spot in many cultures’ mythologies, we still have a considerable lack of knowledge when it comes to this creature. It is no surprise however just how it became famous. The giant squid is unlike any other animal, with its massive, soft body, volleyball-sized eyes, formidable beak, and suction cup-laden tentacles.  It is no surprise that sailors spun such bolstered stories about the animal after they encountered it.

 

The orca is one of the most powerful apex predators in the world. The size of a school bus and weighing up to 6 tons, this creature’s size allows it to dominate the ocean and prey on marine animals, large and small. Contrary to their name however, these “killer whales” are not whales. Killer whales, or orcas, are the largest species of dolphin in the ocean. Whale or dolphin, orcas are known for their size and tenacity when hunting—preying creatively on just about anything.

Orcas are found throughout the ocean, from polar regions to the Equator. Typically though, orcas favor cold, coastal waters. Orcas’ diets vary, consisting of seals, sea lions, fish, squids, seabirds, and even other whales. What enables such a large scope of predation is their means of hunting. Orcas hunt in pods of up to 40 members. There are distinctive behavioral differences to be observed between two types of orca pods, transient and resident, that affect what and how they hunt.

Resident pods are most often found in the waters of British Columbia and Washington. These pods remain in one area to live and hunt. Transient pods are nomadic, ranging throughout the Ocean. Along with a difference in ecological location, these pods also differ anatomically. Transient killer whales are a meter or so longer on average and lack much of the pigmentation that resident pod individuals have. This can be seen in the “saddle” region, located behind the top dorsal fin. Transient orcas also have longer, more pointed dorsal fins which make them easier to distinguish. Because of their roving lifestyle, transient orcas feed on marine mammals far more than the fish-eating resident orcas. Their larger size can be attributed to necessity when hunting sea lions, porpoises, and small whales.

In terms of behavior and socialization, these types of orcas also differ. Resident orcas tend to live in larger pods than transient orcas. Based off of closely related matrilines, pods can form clans with other pods of similar dialects and common maternal heritage. As the social structure increases in level, the bond becomes looser. At its base level, matrilines, the orcas maintain a very tight community—leaving only for hours at a time. Transient pods consist of usually one small matriline. These mother-offspring groups roam the ocean together, but it is not uncommon for permanent separation of a member. Some male orcas are known as “rovers” and only join pods temporarily for mating, spending the rest of their time alone. In terms of socialization, resident orcas are far more communicative. Hunting only fish, resident orcas will communicate through vocalizations and echolocation. Fish cannot hear the sounds emitted by their pursuers and are thus oblivious to the oncoming attack. Resident orcas will also celebrate when coming together as a larger group, breaching the water and slapping tails. Transient orcas are very different. Hunting mammals, which can hear the clicks and whistles of the pod, transient orcas remain silent for much of their travel—not wanting to be heard by their prey.

Across the two types, hunting techniques are creative and well executed. Hunting like a wolf pack, orcas have been known to target prey as a group, make waves to wash seals off of ice floes, and even launch themselves on land to reach sea lion pups and scare others into the water.

Despite the controversy surrounding aquariums and exhibits like Sea World, orcas have never been extensively hunted by humans. The treatment of these intelligent giants has been drawn to question when looking at organizations such as these. The morality of keeping animals used to such large habitats in tiny enclosures is something that has been in recent debate for quite some time.  I hope that, after reading this article, you are more aware of just how unique this animal is and better understand the ethical debate against their captivity.

 

Browsing Twitter one night, I saw a post that immediately made me text my roommate.

“Max,” I texted, “do you know how big a king cobra is??”

Max’s response was, “I don’t know… average snake size?”—marked by uncertainty.

The tweet that had put me at such high alert contained the caption “King Cobra bites python. Python constricts cobra. Cobra gets crushed to death. Python dies from the cobra’s venom.” This fairly straightforward caption was accompanied by a picture of the scene depicted. To my surprise and confusion, the king cobra was nearly the size of the python wrapped so tightly around it. Balled together at the bottom of a ditch, the python is firmly wrapped around the cobra’s body, with the cobra’s jaws firmly locked in place behind the python’s head. Upon further research of my own, I discovered that this encounter had surfaced on a number of news sources just earlier this month. On February 2, 2018, National Geographic published an article on the rare sight.

Like the picture had startled me into seeking consolation from my roommate, it had also surprised and intrigued much of the world’s scientific community, going viral in a matter of days. Coleman Sheehy of the Florida Museum of Natural History presumed that the incident occurred in Southeast Asia, where the two snakes overlap in territory. He stated, “It’s crazy, but it’s something I could easily see happening… it’s a dangerous world out there, to eat other big snakes and things that could kill you.”

Frank Burbrink of the American Museum of Natural History stated that if one of the snakes incited the event, it was the king cobra. Cobra’s are known for specializing in the predation of other snakes. With paralyzing venom and size on their side, they are formidable opponents, to say the least.

King cobras are the largest of all venomous snakes. Averaging at about 13 feet, but with some known to reach 18, the king cobra is massive. Because of this, they have been known to be as heavy as 35 pounds. What makes their size all the more impressive is their unique ability to “stand”. King cobras can raise a third of their length off of the ground—large ones coming eye-level with an average sized man. Even in a raised position, they have no problem moving forward to attack.

One of their hallmark features, reared cobras will often fan the hoods on their back. The flared hood is a result of inflatable air sacs and modified ribs. King cobras are also known to have rough, growl-like hisses to intimidate prey and threats.

King cobras tend to be protective and timid when encountered in the wild. Typically, they will avoid contact with humans. However, should one feel threatened, they become very aggressive. A cobra’s venom contains a neurotoxin. This neurotoxin prevents the binding of neurotransmitters to neurons in the body. This inhibits the proper contraction of muscles and results in their prey essentially suffocating, their diaphragm unable to control their breathing. It’s said that the venom of a single bite from a king cobra, is enough to kill 20 people or a full-sized elephant. King cobras will inject their venom when hunting and attacking, but will spit their venom if merely threatened. The only snake able to spit venom, not every type of cobra can. The ones that do though, possess modified fangs with small holes. These small holes allow them to “spit” venom at high pressure. Deadly accurate, they will always aim for the eyes of their target. This results in excruciating pain and blindness.

One incredible characteristic of the king cobra is their versatility. Found largely in Southeast Asia, these snakes sport a variety of colorings and markings, depending upon their region. They are also well adapted to a number of landscapes. King cobras are known to climb trees and swim, as well as move along the forest floor.

A source explaining what to do should you encounter a cobra states that you should immediately strip off your shirt or hat and throw it to the ground. The snake will go to the clothing and it will provide you with enough time to leave the area.

King Cobra’s are freaky. Prior to seeing that tweet, I had no idea of their size. While some are what I would deem, like Max, “average snake size”, the king cobra is a monster. While snakes already scared me prior to the article, the King Cobra now takes the cake. It’s absolutely marvelous that something so terrifying can exist. This mass of slithering muscle is going to stick with me as one of my top fears for a while now.

 

A bird flies high above the tree tops. Riding gusts and gales, it surveys the weave-work of branches below for insects and berries. Suddenly, a screech comes from above and a plummeting force crushes down on it. Flying high and diving low at incredible rates, the peregrine falcon has staked its claim as one of the fastest in the sky. To be caught at the bottom of a peregrine’s dive is the last place you want to be as a bird or bat.

Peregrine falcons are very capable hunters that target their prey from high above and dive, striking them mid-flight. Known for their stealth and sleek builds, peregrine falcons have inspired numerous aerodynamic aircraft concepts. The dive of a peregrine falcon is engineered for lethality, allowing them to top 200 miles an hour—this is the highest speed of any animal known to man. Flying nearly a kilometer high (0.62 miles) before the dive, their prey never has a chance to react.

Peregrine falcons are some of the most common, but notable, birds in the world. Peregrines are found all: from deserts, to coasts, to even cities. Because of this, and their propensity to travel far outside of their nesting season, comes their name. Peregrine is a word, scarcely used now, that quite literally means wanderer. The world’s most common bird of prey, peregrines can be found all continents except Antarctica. Some have been known to travel as many as 15,500 miles in a year. These falcons are able to travel so far because they rely on their impeccable homing instinct. Many falcons use nesting sites that have been passed through generations of falcons for hundreds of years. Where as many animals have been forced from their habitats by the urbanization of first-world countries, the peregrine has learned to capitalize off of this. New York City hosts the highest concentration of the bird in the world. From high perches on skyscrapers, peregrine falcons can pick off birds flying below.

The peregrine falcon is built for speed. The teardrop-shaped body of the falcon and its stiff feathers are two reasons it is so aerodynamic. It also sports black patches on its face that minimize glare when in flying, much like the eye black of a football or baseball player. To combat the speeds at which it goes, the falcon also has a third eyelid to lubricate the eye during flight. Flying at such high speeds also makes for trouble breathing. To account for lung-damaging high wind pressure that may also prevent airflow into the nostrils, peregrine falcons have cone-shaped bones that deflect shockwaves, called baffles.

A number of these characteristics have been adopted by our aircrafts today. Jets moving at supersonic speeds often encounter a block of airflow into their engines. This results in the engines “choking”. To prevent the air from hitting a wall of resistance around the engine, a cone similar to the falcon’s baffle is now implemented. All large jet engines now sport these at their center. Scientists at the University of London’s BAE Systems and City are also studying the feathers of peregrines for fuel efficiency and safety. Peregrines sport sensory feathers that can detect if it has lost airflow. With this in mind BAE scientists are experimenting with 3D printing polymer hair filaments directly onto the wings of aircrafts to produce real-time data on its aerodynamics. Densely packed filaments may also help reduce drag on the winds and increase fuel efficiency. BAE is also looking into hinged flaps that mimic the upward bristle of a peregrine falcon’s feathers when trying to slow its descent. This would grant aircrafts greater control in landings and in improve safety.

The peregrine falcon is truly a marvel of nature. With grace and speed, it dominates its ecosystem. Though its numbers were reduced to but a few hundred after the DDT environmental crisis, it has rebounded and is no longer a threatened species. I hope that we all have the chance to see one of these amazing birds in action. If you’re ever in the city, there are observation decks upon which you can see them. It might be worth your time to catch a half second blur streaking out of the sky.

The smell of motor oil fills permeates the air, exacerbated by the heat pounding down on you and your photography crew as you take your small boat around a slight bend in the river. You cut the engine to discuss where it is you’ll take to the shore line when you hear a thud. Everyone in your group pauses momentarily. Just when you’re about to take up the conversation again, the boat shifts as a mass beneath it rises. With a great roar, a hippopotamus forcefully throws your boat, capsizing it and sending everyone into the African river.

The most dangerous animal in Africa, the hippo is responsible for more human fatalities than any other animal on the continent. Males are extremely territorial and will actively patrol the banks of the bodies of water they inhabit. Females are easily agitated when defending their young. Their propensity for aggression, 1,821 psi bite, and 20-inch teeth make them an animal you don’t want to encounter.

An encounter like this happened to conservation biologist Steve Boyes. He recounts, “Something had gone under me, and I called ‘Kubu! Hippo!’ to the team, trying to warn them. Right then, as I thought it, I see this face coming up. Then it’s like a bomb going off”. (Scroll to watch the video for this story)

The hippopotamus’s name actually translates to “river horse” in Greek, a name that seems impossibly graceful for such a massive animal. However, this is quite the case. Hippos, weighing anywhere from 1.5 to 4 tons, have a great affinity for water, spending up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes. This is done in order to cool their bodies down. With eyes and nostrils positioned high on their heads, hippopotamuses have no trouble laying nearly fully submerged in shallows. Hippos are known to be fantastic swimmers and can hold their breaths for up to 5 minutes. Because of their size and ability to stay under for so long, they will also often walk or stand on lake and river floors. Though it’s not overt, hippos are fairly optimized for a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

On land, hippos continue to be very active. At sundown, hippos leave the water to graze. Traveling anywhere up to 6 miles, hippopotamuses move single-file and consume up to 80 pounds of grass. Despite that being a ridiculous amount of only grass, these herbivores’ food intake is relatively low for their size. If threatened on land, hippos will often run to the nearest site of water to defend themselves. This animal is known to run at speeds similar to that of a human’s, for short distances.

When encountering a hippopotamus in the wild, there a few tips to follow. If on land, don’t get between a hippo and the nearest lake or river. If threatened, the animal might attempt to flee to the water and you don’t want to be between the two. According to BBC’s Discover Wildlife, hippos are extremely unpredictable creatures and are not responsive to the arm waves and stature changes that other animals might. If charged, it’s recommended that you take cover behind any nearby trees or termite mounds. If in the water, tapping the side of your boat will make hippos aware of your presence and stop them from accidentally coming up beneath you.

For the most part, it is easy to avoid the aggression of a hippopotamus. By giving a respectful amount of space and maintaining an awareness of your surroundings, you can forgo any dangerous encounters with these animals. Undisturbed and unthreatened, the hippo is a very

The hippo is certainly a peculiar animal in size and nature. Writing these blogs has served as a reminder to me that nature is amazing. There is an incredible amount of variety, complexity, and oddity in the myriad of animals in the world.

To offset the hippo’s violent tendencies, below is a video of a hippo crushing and eating a whole watermelon. Definitely watch the video… definitely don’t try this one yourselves.

The largest of the big cats in the New World, Jaguars have been recognized for their beauty and power since early Native American Cultures. Now primarily found in the Amazon Basin of South and Central America, it used to be that Jaguars could be found from Cape Horn to the US-Mexico border. In these native cultures throughout South America, jaguars were feared and revered for their killer instinct and majesty. Derived from the native word yaguar, jaguar means “he who kills with one leap”. Because of this reputation, a jaguar was often used to depict the God of the Night or ruler of the underworld.

The jaguar’s reputation with the natives isn’t without backing. Weighing up to 250 pounds and measuring up to 6 feet in length, the jaguar is the largest predatory mammal in South and Central America. With the strongest bite out of all the big cats relative to its size (1,350 psi), it will typically choose to bite and crush the skull of its prey. What makes the jaguar’s jaw so unique compared to other large felines is the “arrangement of its jaw muscles” and the fact that its slightly shorter jaws “[increase] the leverage for biting”, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. It’s fairly compact size and strong bite make the jaguar perfect for stalking just about anything in the rainforests in which it lives.

Jaguar’s diets consist of large animals such as deer, capybaras, and tapirs. These beasts will often perch in trees waiting for the right moment to strike—all it takes is surprise and a single bite. What may come as a surprise, however, is that jaguars are as proficient at swimming as they are climbing. Because of this attribute, jags also turn to rivers for food. Jaguars have been known to also eat fist, turtles, or caimans. With their strong bites, they have no trouble piercing alligatorlike hides and crushing turtle shells.

With beautiful fur, these animals are often hunted for their pelts. Jaguars have tan or orange fur with black spots, or “rosettes”. These spots are named as such because of their distinctive rose shape. While this is the typical image conjured of a jaguar, they can also be melanistic jaguars—or black jaguars. Black jaguars have much darker furs that appear spotless unless close. Interestingly, they are also known as black panthers, an umbrella term for any large cat with black fur. What differentiates a “black panther” from other cats is actually the presence of a specific gene. This mutation is most commonly seen in the leopards of Asia and Africa and the jaguars of South America.

Jaguars are very territorial animals, claiming areas that cover many square miles with their waste or by clawing and marking trees. Mothers are even more so when defending their blind and helpless cubs. Mothers have even been known to ferociously attack the father of their cubs, should he come too close. It’s because of this that one should be wary when running into these animals. Like the grizzly bear, there is a specific protocol to follow if you ever do. In a Costa Rica-based field biologist’s blog, the procedure is stated as such: stay calm upon contact; raise your arms slowly and avoid abrupt movements; without bending over, slowly lift any children that might be with you; back away slowly and do not turn your back on the animal.

Jaguars are multi-faceted animals to say the least. With their unique lethality and affinity for water, I would love to observe one of these animals in the wild, in action. Though that might be a bit of a frightening experience, I have no doubt it would be extremely rewarding as well.

Lizards are innately frightening animals. Cold, scaly, and with calculated stares, these creatures have inspired mythologies, imaginations, and anxieties for thousands of years. That in mind, for me at least, their size has always come as a consolation. Never have I feared stumbling upon a lizard large enough to cause concern (though this might be due to my living in Pennsylvania). Whatever solace came from this rationale, however, was shattered when I learned of the Gila monster (HEE-luh), the largest lizard native to the United States.

To my roommate, an Arizonan, my discovery of this animal was nothing special; but to my girlfriend and I, born and raised on the East Coast, we were blown away (and a little repulsed) by the lizard. Browsing YouTube, we ran across a channel called Brave Wilderness, whose host subjects himself to various venomous bites and stings from across the world. In one of his videos, he inadvertently encounters a Gila monster and, while attempting to capture b-roll, gets bitten on the hand. What caught me off guard the most was the Gila monster’s size. Growing up to 2 feet in size and weighing over 5 pounds, according to National Geographic, this is definitely more lizard than I ever thought I would bargain for in the US. While, the Gila monster is smaller than invasive species such as green iguanas and Nile monitors (coming in around 5 feet in length), it still holds the title of largest native American species.

Found in the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico, Gilas inhabit the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. Named after Arizona’s Gila River basin where they were found, they are fairly commonplace in the lives of the people that populate these regions. Because of that, my roommate was not nearly as excited as I was about their simple existence.

One of few, the Gila monster is actually a venomous lizard. The Gila’s venom is a mild neurotoxin which results in extreme pain when bitten. Despite this though, no one has ever died as a result of its bite. Interestingly, the Gila monster doesn’t inject its venom like snakes or other venomous species. Gila monsters latch onto their victims, biting down and chewing, allowing the neurotoxins to run down grooves in their teeth and into the wound. To make this worse, the Gila monster’s bite is no quick process when compared to that of a snake. Gila monster’s will often hold their powerful grip for up to 15 minutes at a time, perfusing as much venom as they can from the glands located in their lower jaw. This neurotoxin is causes pain, swelling, hypotension (low blood pressure), and shock in humans.

Though in possession of such a formidable mechanism, the Gila monster utilizes its venomous abilities for self-defense purposes only, rarely subjecting its prey to its venom. On the menu for the Gila monster are small animals, such as: mammals, birds, and other lizards. That being said, the Gila’s favorite food is something it would never need to envenomate: eggs. Hunting for eggs, this animal has been known to swallow small eggs whole (such as the video of a Gila eating quail eggs on Mental Floss) and crack larger ones, drinking their contents. Gila monsters are known to climb trees in order to reach nests up to 8 feet off the ground. Clearly, this lizard errs on the particular side when it comes to its food.

While their bodies’ camouflage often allows for them to go unseen—boasting black bodies with patterns of pink, orange, or yellow—the Gila monster takes advantage of this trait very rarely throughout the year. A sedentary animal, Gilas spend more than 95% of their life underground, as reported by Mental Floss. Living in “abandoned mammal burrows, pack rat nests, and crevices beneath large rocks”, these lizards only spend about 3-4 weeks above ground. Taking place at night, Gila monsters use this time to hunt.

Incidentally, Gila monsters aren’t hard-pressed to leave the comfort of their subterranean homes due to a knack for long-term planning. Unlike many other lizards, the Gila monster cannot lose and re-grow its tail. However, the tail of the Gila may be used to store fat reserves in. This ability, coupled with their low resting metabolic rate, allows it to survive the duration of a year on as little as 3- 4 meals yearly. Perfect for an animal that surfaces for only 3-4 weeks in a year.

With a bite that packs a punch (an agonizing one), Gilas should be given a wide berth when encountered in nature. That considered, their bite does have one a merit. A synthetic version of a protein found in their saliva is used as a treatment for diabetes in humans. While it wouldn’t do you much good to actively offer one of these guys an arm to bite, they have managed to impact modern medicine positively. All-in-all, the Gila monster’s lifestyle renders it a fairly innocuous species. So long as you give it a respectful distance, one won’t attempt to attack you. Because of this, you should have no trouble taking in the novelty and complexity of this creature, should you ever run into one.

 

 

Trekking through Alaskan bush, you stop to appreciate the scenery around you. Birds sing, squirrels leap and crash overhead, and the hardy foliage rustles in the wind. You hear the innocuous crackling of twigs behind you and turn to survey even more wildlife. Peering into the thick underbrush that surrounds the trail, you try to make out the source of the nearing noise when, to your dismay, you catch sight of a 600-pound grizzly bear making its way towards you.

Grizzly bears were titans of many North American ecosystems prior to the westward expansion. A surviving remnant of megafauna from a time of larger animals on Earth, the grizzly’s size and known ferocity are hallmarks of its character. Following the pursuit of a new founded America’s “manifest destiny”, these large bears were pushed from many of the more southern regions that they inhabited. Today, grizzlies are largely confined to the rough regions of Canada and Alaska.

The scenario above wouldn’t be unlikely, and it would certainly be a terrifying one. Grizzly bears are known to live their lives relatively isolated from those of their kind. Apex predators, people travelling through grizzly occupied areas need to remain wary of these solo stalkers—their low numbers (if any), and natural camouflage easily hiding them from sight. Grizzly bears are one of the largest sub species of brown bear, passed though by their relative sub species, the Kodiak bear. With that, grizzlies are often cited for their sheer mass and power. The average grizzly comes in around 8 feet in length, weighs 800 pounds, and may have paws over a foot in diameter. These bears are typically a very dark brown, allowing them to blend in with the habitat around them—though their sometimes white-tipped hair can give them a ‘grizzled appearance’ (and consequently their namesake).

While these creatures’ size and known dietary habits might lead most to believe they are solely flesh eaters, grizzly bears are actually omnivorous, feasting on plants as well as animals. Though they might feast on anything from a small rodent to an animal as large as a moose, bears also consume large amounts of nuts, berries, insects, roots, fruit, and foliage. Grizzly bears may consume up to 90 pounds of food a day.

In terms of predation, grizzlies dominate their ecosystems. Running at speeds as fast as 30 miles an hour, claws up to 4 inches in length, and with a bite force of about 1,200 psi (pounds per square inch), these bears have no trouble hunting, as well as defending themselves and their young. Known to be territorial, there are reports of grizzly bears attacking humans that startle them in their habitat. Worse yet, mother bears are extremely aggressive when other animals and people get between them and their young.

If you are ever unfortunate enough to encounter a grizzly bear in the wild, there are recommended tips for how to proceed. While these are not guarantees of your safety, they are your best chance in a dire situation. If you are to face a grizzly bear, don’t attempt to run away from it, as that will invite pursuit. Avoid direct eye contact, so as to not challenge the animal. If the bear does not approach you, walk away from it slowly; however, if it does approach, your only option is to stand your ground. As directed by PBS, speaking in a muted monotone while waving your arms will often lead it to be uninterested in you, as grizzlies do not actively seek humans. If under attack, it is recommended to curl up in a ball on your side or to lie flat on your stomach.

Grizzly bears are certainly forces to be reckoned with in nature. Their size and tenacity should make anyone wary of going through their territory. With that though, these animals are things of beauty and, while you might not want to get a close up look, they more than deserve to be marveled at from afar.