A visitor took their life into their hands recently when they strolled within a few feet of a grizzly bear at Grand Teton National Park to get a better shot of the animal on their phone.
In the video, which you can watch below, the visitor walks right up to the bear, which is feeding in a field. The creature is easily recognizable as a grizzly due to its distinctive shoulder hump and concave face shape. Towards the end of the clip there are two voices, suggesting that more than one person chose to enter the bear's space.
Olympic National Park is home to a huge variety of wildlife, including bears, red foxes, lynx, coyotes, and wolverines to name just a few. Seeing any of them can be a thrilling experience, but approaching wild animals is never a sensible idea, and the National Park Service recommends using binoculars or scopes to get a good view.
"Never approach, crowd, pursue, or displace bears," the NPS warns. "If a bear changes its behavior because of your presence, you are too close!"
Rules vary between parks due to the different landscapes, but Yellowstone requires visitors to stay at least 200 feet from bears, while Shenandoah requires you to stay at least 100 feet away.
Accidental bear encounters are more likely at this time of year as the animals start to build up their fat reserves in preparation for hibernation, so make sure you keep your wits about you when exploring bear country, and avoid travelling alone. For more advice, check out our guide what to do if you meet a bear.
