Although much of the country is smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer, at Glacier National Park in Montana, there are still snowfields, which can prove hazardous. A bear in the park found himself on nature’s version of a slip and slide when he stepped onto a snowfield and couldn’t find his footing. The whole incident was caught on camera by Jacob Hartman, who shared it with the park. They went ahead and posted it to their official Facebook page.
Although the bear is super-cute, the video serves as an important reminder to use caution around snowfields.
“Crossing snow and ice can lead to serious injuries and even death,” those behind the account wrote in their caption. “Consider turning around instead of crossing a snow field, especially if you don’t have the proper gear. We are happy to report that no bears were injured during the filming of this video!”
Check it out:
Aww! The poor little guy really struggles!
The video has now been shared more than 3,000 times, and the comments are flooded with sympathy for the slipping bear.
Luckily, the bear made it across the snowfield safely in the end, but unfortunately, humans visiting the park may not be so lucky. The National Park Service warns visiting hikers that snowfields and glaciers can present serious hazards at Glacier National Park. They note that snowbridges can hide deep crevasses on glaciers or large hidden cavities under the snowfields, which can then collapse beneath a hiker’s feet. For that reason, the service urges people not to hike on snowbanks, and to use caution around snowfields.
Mountainous terrain is another potential safety hazard in the park. Hikers should stay on designated trails at all times, staying inside protective fencing or guard rails. Children should also be closely supervised in these areas. Hikers should also be mindful of traffic along the roads in the park.
Have you ever hiked near a snowfield before?
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