Local biker comes ‘eyeball to eyeball’ with black bear

A black bear photographed in Utah. Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources // Dustin Stettler

PARK CITY, Utah — A Utah man was biking in Park City when he had a close call with a black bear, stating he and the bear met “eyeball to eyeball.”

Mountain biker Jim Ossalear was biking up Jenny’s Trail when this occurred.

“I heard a noise behind me, so I thought, ‘Hey, let me stop and see that sweet little deer and check out mother nature,’” Ossalear told ABC4. “There was a bear. We were eyeball to eyeball looking at each other. It was just kind of chilling hanging out and checking me out, but I was a little scared,” he said.

Once Ossalear returned home safely, he researched the correct bear protocol. Apparently, he did the exact opposite of those recommendations.

“I just completely panicked,” Ossalear said. “I took off riding, and then, of course, I was like, ‘Oh wait, you’re not supposed to go.’”

According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, if you come into contact with a black bear, you should stand your ground, back up slowly, and if it attacks, fight back.

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