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Woman Carries On Photographing Bear As It Moves Closer Towards Her

Woman Carries On Photographing Bear As It Moves Closer Towards Her

Dr Brian Curtice clocked the woman while visiting Glacier National Park, Montana, last August

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

If you found yourself within swiping distance of a grizzly bear, you'd probably want to get the hell outta there, wouldn't you? Or at least do all the preventative things you're supposedly meant to do - like slowly waving your arms or using bear pepper spray.

Well, one tourist took a slightly different approach after finding herself in a VERY hairy situation when a grizzly bear came hurtling over towards her. Not only did she choose to stay put, but ahe also continued to photograph the beast as it moved closer.

NO THANKS.

Kennedy News

Dr Brian Curtice clocked the woman while visiting Glacier National Park, Montana, last August, and claims she was unaware of just how close the bear was to her as she carried on snapping pictures.

Curtice captured the moment himself, with the photo showing the juvenile bear eyeing the 'vulnerable' woman, who was seemingly oblivious to the potential danger in front of her.

The dad of two said the bear had been running right up until it came close to the woman, then stood still while sniffing the air.

Despite being just feet away from the anonymous woman, the animal thankfully decided to turn its attention away from her and instead lumbered across the road and disappeared up a nearby hill.

The encounter happened in Glacier National Park, Montana, last August.
Kennedy News

Brian, from Arizona, said: "When I shot the image I remember thinking, 'I hope that is as close to her as the bear gets - and please let it be in focus.'

"Initially I wasn't frightened at all, I was too focused on getting good shots.

"I vaguely heard people around me begin clamouring and shouting and got a feeling people were moving rapidly away from me.

"That's when it dawned on me the bear was closer than I might have thought it was and why I don't think the girl knew how close it was.

"The bear had been running up until it got close to her. It then stopped and sniffed the air.

"I looked up from my camera and saw that she was alone - her family and friends had all run away.

Dr Brian Curtice.
Kennedy News

"My adrenaline began kicking in and I shouted at her but she was either too far away, too focused on taking pictures, or was employing a strategy of 'don't move and the bear won't mess with me' as she was a statue.

"When it stopped for what seemed like forever I definitely became concerned for her, I knew it was up to the bear what happened next.

"I have to imagine the bear running up the hill startled her a bit and, as it came closer she was most likely focused on getting crisp close-ups."

Curtice a photographer, said he believes the woman simply may not have realised just how close she had come to becoming a 'bear snack'.

He continued: "I don't think she truly realised how close the bear came to her.

"She was a true photographer and stayed still firing away the entire time, she never took the camera from her eye.

"The bear decided to cross the street and up the steep hill on the other side, which it did effortlessly.

"The woman calmly put her camera down and walked towards her friends.

"I wasn't able to make my way to her and let her know just how close the bear was to her although I did hear her friends letting her have it."

Kennedy News

Curtice said others who have seen the photo have criticised the woman for putting both herself and the bear in danger.

He explained: "When I've shown this image to others, most have been very critical of the woman, calling her foolish, but I think they are too quick to judge.

"Knowing she was shooting a long lens, she was focused on getting 'the shot'. And the bear... well, it did what bears do and ambled far more quickly than anyone there thought it would.

Kennedy News

"A petite, vulnerable, young lady being eyeballed as a potential bear snack which would ultimately lead to the bear's euthanisation, should it have attacked her, would have been all her fault in the eyes of everyone that has looked at the image.

"In my opinion, the best distance to be when photographing bears is a minimum of 100 yards, preferably even farther away.

"I have photographed lots of bears over the years and never fail to be amazed at how fast they can move when they want to.

"My advice to those wishing to photograph bears in future would be to be aware and use a long lens.

"Had the bear's direction been towards me instead of away when it was running up the hill I would have scampered back to the safety of my car."

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News

Topics: News, US News, Animals