An elderly man in British Columbia, Canada, has become the subject of a viral video after calmly reacting to a black bear that approached him within inches on a sidewalk. In the footage, the man is seen walking with a brown bag in his hand when two passersby on the opposite side of the road call out to warn him about the animal.
"Come here. Right behind you," the bystanders alerted the man. However, the unidentified man appeared unfazed by the potentially dangerous encounter, dismissed the warnings, and continued on his way. He later looked back at the bear and increased his pace as he walked away.
Bear sightings are a common occurrence in British Columbia. In July 2026 alone, the Government of British Columbia received 2,664 calls regarding black bear sightings. The BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) responded to 212 of these calls, leading to the dispatch and euthanasia of 39 bears that month.
Recent incidents highlight the ongoing interactions between humans and bears in the region. Last week, a woman was injured in a bear attack outside Whistler, British Columbia, when one of two spotted bears charged her before disengaging. She was transported to a hospital after receiving initial first aid. In May, a man in Squamish suffered minor injuries to his arm and leg when he was charged by a sow after encountering two black bear cubs on a trail.
Last November, a grizzly bear attacked a group of 11 people, including teachers and students, in Bella Coola, British Columbia, leaving two in critical condition. The BCCOS ended its active search for that bear two weeks after the incident, having captured eight bears during the operation.
Officials with the BCCOS have alerted the public that bears become more active in the fall as they search for food in preparation for hibernation. They noted that drought conditions, wildfires, and poor berry crops can drive bears into residential areas in search of sustenance. Additionally, improper securing of attractants such as garbage, pet food, and birdseed can lead to bears becoming "food-conditioned."