We spend a lot of time talking about the massive grizzly bears out in Montana and the big coastal browns in Alaska, but let’s not forget that Eastern Europe has its own apex predators roaming the woods.
Russia, Romania, Scandinavia, and other countries in Eastern Europe have substantial populations of bears. The brown bears over in Romania are genetically practically the exact same as our North American grizzlies, and just as capable of completely ruining your day. That being said, they tend to runner a little smaller than your average American grizzly, and also tend to be less aggressive… since they’ve been a bit more conditioned to living alongside people for longer.
But… if you ever needed a reminder that all bears are not the cuddly woodland creatures that cartoons want you to think they are, this terrifying footage out of Romania’s well-known “Bear Pass,” and area in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains that is known for its bear population, is all the proof you need. Mother Nature is completely ruthless, and when you step into the woods, you are stepping squarely onto the food chain.
A mother brown bear and her tiny cub are walking down a paved road, pinned between a steep rock wall and a line of traffic. A car of tourists is stopped right next to them, and the passengers are naturally filming the encounter through their rolled DOWN window. Mistake #1. At one point, you can see them throw some food out towards the bear. Mistake #2… you should never try to feed a wild animal. Especially a bear with her cubs. It is also illegal in Romania to feed them (however, some try to sell food for the bears to take advantage of ignorant tourists).
The momma bear clearly feels cornered and threatened. She stands up on her hind legs to assert dominance, but that isn’t enough. Suddenly, she drops down and charges the car with terrifying speed, launching herself right at the door. The footage cuts to the perspective from inside the vehicle, showing the angry mama coming through the window and clawing at the driver of the car, a Bulgarian tourist. The bear actually grabbed hold of the man and tried to yank him out of the car as passengers absolutely panic and scream in terror.
The man, who is a former soccer executive, said:
“I entered its environment, it was a mistake for which I paid… it tried to grab me and pull me out of the car.”
The man had to undergo emergency surgery for his sever injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Regardless of the fact that they were inside a vehicle, videos like this serve as a massive reality check. People constantly underestimate just how fast these predators can cover ground, how strong they are and how sharp their claws can be. A well-placed scratch can be game over for you, let alone a bite. And a brown bear can sprint at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Let that sink in for a second.
If you are venturing into true bear country, whether that is the backcountry of Wyoming or the Romanian mountains, you have to be prepared. Don’t feed them, stay away from a mother with cubs, keep your distance and your windows rolled up. If you’re out of the car, carry bear spray, make plenty of noise on the trail so you don’t accidentally surprise a momma bear with cubs, and always keep your head on a swivel.
