An amazing video posted on TikTok by ShaleeWanders tells the story of her encounter with two juvenile grizzly bears on a recent camping trip in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in the Canadian Rockies. Although she and her husband are fine, the whole thing is absolutely terrifying! And it’s a miracle she escaped without a scratch!
The story begins when her husband, Josh, leaves to go climb nearby Mount Assiniboine, and Shalee was going to pack up, and make the 4.8-mile trek through the woods back to the trailhead. As she was getting ready to head out for a bathroom break, she heard a noise, instantly knew it was a bear, and saw the shadow of a grizzly claw on the side of the tent. Sounds like a horror movie, right?
She was literally one foot away from a grizzly, with another one twenty-five feet behind it. She sprayed it with bear spray, and was able to get out (shoeless) and make her way to a large field where she was able to watch the two bears utterly destroy her tent. Here’s the full story:
Listening to her tell this story absolutely sends shivers down my spine! To listen to her recounting it immediately after, and the calmness she’s able to summon is absolutely astounding! Not to mention her calmness during the situation, which without a doubt saved her life.
Viewers were also stunned. Miss Melis said, ‘You handled this so well.’ String Beany added, ‘Girl, you handled that like a pro. I would’ve simply passed away.’ The Jeff Fade remarked, ‘You’re a badass. Way to keep your composure and wits about you!’ Wow! I so agree. She’s absolutely amazing, and I don’t think many people would’ve fared that well.
What to Do If You See a Grizzly Bear
WildMedia/Shutterstock
So, what should you do in a similar situation? Exactly what Shalee did! Staying calm is the number one rule, which is crazy, because it’s a giant apex predator knocking on your tent basically requesting to eat you BUT, stay calm.
Do not turn your back on a grizzly, rather back away, and talk to it in an appeasing voice. ALWAYS have your bear spray and keep it in hand. Never run. Bears can run up to 35miles per hour–you will not outrun them. If backing away doesn’t work, use pepper spray. If the bear attacks, play dead, and protect your head and neck.
Related: Florida Man Recounts Being Attacked by Bear While Protecting His Dog in Harrowing 911 Call
Keep in mind, that this is just *this situation*. Advice will vary depending on the type of bear.
What saved Shalee wasn’t luck. It was preparation and a respect so sharp it bordered on reverence. Everyone could learn something from her!
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Aug 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.