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WATCH: North Cascades hiker has close encounter with black bear


Two hikers had a close encounter with a black bear while hiking near Goat Lake in the North Cascades this week. (Photo: still image from video recorded by Mariame Sanoh)
Two hikers had a close encounter with a black bear while hiking near Goat Lake in the North Cascades this week. (Photo: still image from video recorded by Mariame Sanoh)
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SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. - Two hikers had a close encounter with a black bear while hiking near Goat Lake in the North Cascades this week.

Mariame Sanoh and her friend were hiking down the trail Thursday when suddenly a black bear came around the corner on the trail.

Sanoh said it approached them slowly, and she told her friend not to panic and just slowly walk away.

But, the bear continued to follow them up the trail.

Soon they decided to turn off the trail into the trees, where they planned to hide from the bear. But it tracked them into the woods, and as it approached, Mariame changed her tactic.

“I remembered that, if you see one and they’re approaching you, stand big, stand tall, yell at it,” she explained. “So I let out a scream.”

WATCH: Hikers has close encounter with a black bear while hiking near Goat Lake in the North Cascades:

Mariame captured video on her cell phone of her frantic screams as she moves to create space between her and the bear. And to her credit, the bear turned and walked away seconds later.

Sgt. Kim Chandler with WA Fish & Wildlife says Mariame’s screams were a bit of an overreaction, though he understands the impulse to scream.

Sgt. Chandler offered the following tips if you encounter a black bear on a trail:

  1. Don’t panic.
  2. Don’t run away.
  3. Look for an escape route.
  4. Make yourself look big (you can use your jacket)
  5. Calmly speak to the bear, showing you are the boss.
  6. Slowly back away.

After all, he said the bear is probably just curious.

“It’s highly unlikely you’re going to be attacked,” Sgt. Chandler said. He recommends you carry bear spray when you hike in the mountains.

Mariame said the encounter won’t stop her from hiking again soon.

“We’re pretty much laughing about it now,” she said about the video.

She hopes her story helps other hikers prepare for the moment their instinct kicks in.

“Enjoy it, just be careful,” she said. “And the next time you see a bear, don’t scream like I did.”

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