Staff Reports
New video and a TV interview are putting a raw Alaska moment back in our feeds. Three hikers at Anan Creek came face-to-face with a big brown bear known as “Scuba Sue.” The clip shows just how fast a pleasant hike can go from scenic to scary — and how a little common sense and ranger advice kept this from turning tragic.
Heart-stopping footage on a narrow trail
The video, filmed by Dr. Michelle Lynn Thaller, shows a mature brown/grizzly bear walking almost on the trail with the hikers just a few feet away. The group rounded a blind corner and froze. There was no time to plan a clever escape because the trail is narrow and the river is right there. They spoke calmly, made themselves look big, and backed away slowly while the bear passed. They later talked about the moment on television and credited a ranger’s safety briefing for their actions.
Why the ranger briefing mattered — and why you should listen
This was not luck. It was training. Rangers at Anan and other coastal sites teach a simple set of rules: do not run, talk calmly so the bear knows you are human, make yourself look large, give the animal room, and be ready to use bear spray if it gets aggressive. Those steps sound basic because they are. If you treat a bear like a wild animal instead of a furry mascot, you’ll leave the trail alive. For anyone who thinks they’re faster than a bear — spoiler alert — you aren’t.
Scuba Sue: a famous brown bear with a famous habit
“Scuba Sue” isn’t some made-up tabloid name. She’s a known individual at Anan Creek, famous for diving under water while fishing for salmon. The observatory’s cameras and ID guides have made bears like her recognizable to many viewers. That’s both a blessing and a danger: livestreams let people enjoy wildlife from home, but they also draw curious visitors who forget the bears are wild, hungry animals—especially when salmon runs are late and the bears are angrier than usual.
Takeaway for visitors: respect, prepare, repeat
This close call should be a lesson for every hiker and tourist. Respect wildlife, follow ranger guidance, carry bear spray, and don’t pose for a closer selfie with a brown bear. The observatory staff and their cameras help people enjoy Alaska’s wild places, but they can’t babysit everyone’s common sense. If you plan to go into bear country, learn the rules now — or don’t be surprised when nature teaches you the hard way.
