Family Encounters Massive Bear on Popular Hiking Trail (Video)

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A family was hiking on a popular trail in Claremont, California recently when they saw something they’d never seen there before—a large bear. Although the trail has signs warning hikers about wildlife, including bears and mountain lions, the family told local news that this bear sighting was a first for them.

KTLA 5 reports that the family frequently hikes this particular Claremont trail, and despite never having had a bear encounter before, they knew what to do. When they spotted the bear, they stopped. Some family members went back the way they came, but others stayed to take a video. The bear wasn’t interested in the hikers; it meandered along the trail for a bit and then went on its way. One family member, Ulises Hernandez, told KTLA that he had a bear horn, but he didn’t feel like he needed it.

Although the bear has brown fur, it’s a black bear (Ursus americanus). American black bears can have black, brown, or even blonde fur. Brown bears, including grizzly bears, no longer live in California (although they used to).

Watch as a family comes across a large bear while hiking:

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Header stock image by Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images/Getty Images