A dramatic video from Canada is rapidly spreading across social media, showing a hiker having a terrifying close encounter with a grizzly bear while taking her dog for a morning walk.

The bear repeatedly approached both the woman and her pet, coming dangerously close, while the frightening encounter was captured on the woman’s mobile phone.

The incident took place in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. The woman was walking her dog along a gravel road when a grizzly bear suddenly appeared nearby and began moving directly toward them.

The bear appeared to focus on the dog
The video shows the grizzly repeatedly closing the distance until it was only a few feet away. Remaining remarkably calm, the woman shouted loudly and waved her arms in an effort to scare the animal away.

The bear circled the woman and her leashed dog several times. At one point, it stood up on its hind legs, watching them from close range while appearing to assess the situation, creating a tense face-to-face encounter.

According to local authorities, the bear showed persistent interest in the dog throughout the incident. After several nerve-racking minutes, it eventually retreated into the forest, though it continued watching the woman as she quickly left the area.

Several recent bear encounters have raised concerns
This was not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, authorities have reported multiple dangerous encounters involving bears in Banff National Park and the surrounding mountain region. In one case, a grizzly tore into a camper’s tent, forcing the occupant to use bear spray to drive the animal away.

Because of the repeated encounters, officials have temporarily banned the use of traditional tents at some campgrounds, allowing only hard-sided campers and trailers. Several popular hiking trails have also been closed after bears damaged multiple unattended tents.