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June 5, 2026 – Canyon Young, Sandia Ranger District Trails & Wilderness Program Manager, wrote:
This is an incredible photo!
I‘m glad to hear the bear wasn’t aggressive, but I will say that it getting as close to you as it did without fear is not normal/healthy behavior for a black bear.
I saw a large bear while trail running on 10K South between Tree Spring and the ski area earlier this week, and it jumped up and ran away as soon as it saw me. This is the type of behavior we want to see, not because we don’t enjoy seeing them around, but rather because lack of this healthy fear of humans often leads them into mischief that can end in them being euthanized, which none of us want.
If I ever encounter a bear (happens all the time as a trail runner) that sees me and hesitates to run away even for a few seconds, I always clap my hands and yell at it, even if I sense no apparent threat. Again, this is not because I dislike bears in the slightest, but rather because I want to reinforce their natural fear of humans so that they stay safe. I would encourage everyone to do the same.
Having lived here my whole life, I’ve seen a very clear pattern of spiked bear sightings and bear-human conflict during particularly dry late springs/early summers before the arrival of the monsoons. I would assume this is due to stunted forage growth in the more remote areas which bears prefer to occupy during more “normal” precipitation years. I’d encourage everyone to be situationally aware out there, and ideally do your part to keep these critters safe!
Dan Benton captured the amazing photograph below while on his way to the worksite for a trail construction project. Alas, most of us when blessed with similar memorable encounters in the forest can only wish that we had gotten our camera or phone out in time to record the scene. Please share your wildlife photos should you be so lucky.
Last updated 4 days ago