Close encounter with bear frightens visitors at Jasper National Park
American tourist films a bear running across a wooden footbridge with a group of people, including children, on it
Some visitors to Jasper National Park Friday were sent running for safety after an unexpected closeup with a bear.
The encounter took place at around 3 p.m. at Athabasca Falls, which is located inside the park.
Video of the encounter quickly surfaced online and was filmed by Bijan Avaz, a college student visiting from California. The recording shows the bear sprinting across a wooden pedestrian bridge with a group of people, including children, standing on it.
In the video, a voice is heard urging people not to run. While some people on the bridge ran away, others remained where they were. The animal then runs across the bridge and into a treed area up the hill.
WATCH BELOW: GRIZZLY BEAR SIGHTINGS ARE ON THE RISE ACROSS VANCOUVER ISLAND
Although Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officers haven't released a public statement on this specific incident, the agency wrote a post on its Facebook page about bear sightings and safety.
“Bears have a curious, investigative nature, an important trait that helps them find new food sources. A bear that has learned to associate food with people will actively search for food or garbage in areas frequented by people," it said.
"When a bear becomes habituated, it can be a significant threat to human safety and property. To avoid causing habituation, people should take steps to ensure their property is BearSmart."
The department then shared some specific safety tips for the public.
• Never leave food out for wildlife. • Always keep your garbage in a garage or in a bear-resistant container until it can be removed from your property. • Store pet food indoors and bring in pet dishes overnight.
If a bear is spotted, people are asked to call the nearest Fish and Wildlife office at 310-0000 or, after business hours, the Report-a-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
Other safety tips, offered by the Alberta government, include avoid running, remaining calm, keep children close, backing out, keep your eye on the bear without staring at it aggressively, prepare to use bear spray and speaking in a soft, low voice.