Ranger’s close encounter with bear was reason popular Mount Rainier trail closed
Mount Rainier National Park posted a statement on its social media pages May 20 that a section of the Wonderland Trail, from Narada Falls to Stevens Canyon Road, had been closed due to “unusual bear activity.”
On Tuesday, the National Park Service’s public affairs office emailed The News Tribune that the Narada Falls to Stevens Canyon Road section of The Wonderland Trail is now fully open.
The park also confirmed that the unusual activity attributed to the closure was a ranger “colliding” with a black bear on the trail during a foot patrol to Reflection Lakes.
“The ranger was unharmed,” the NPS statement to The News Tribune read. “And the bear did not display aggressive behavior. The encounter appears to have been inadvertent. Out of an abundance of caution, the park temporarily closed the section of the Wonderland Trail between Narada Falls and Stevens Canyon Road while staff monitored bear activity in the area.”
A ranger on foot patrol colliding with a black bear is certainly unusual, but surprise bear encounters are not.
On Monday, a man was trail running on Spit Road in Squamish, B.C., when he surprised a mother bear and her cubs. She swiped at him, leaving minor injuries on his arms and legs. The site of the attack remains closed until officials complete an investigation.
Black bears are generally not aggressive toward humans but are known to attack when protecting their young.
The NPS warns that bluff charges are normal behavior for black bears, and they are known to huff and stomp their feet, even run at you if you get too close, interrupt their meal or come across a sow and her cubs. The proper response is always to keep your distance, speak loudly, and let them know you’re there.
Visitors are asked to alert the park service of any sightings, especially if near a campground or trail.
While bluff charging is fairly normal black bear behavior, actually colliding with one on foot is not. Though many black bear encounters have been reported over the years, The News Tribune could not find prior examples of a black bear being physically run into by a human being who is not in a vehicle.
Tips for observing wildlife safely in Mount Rainier National Park can be found on the park website.
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