A mother grizzly bluff charged a solo runner near Numa Pass, and Parks Canada warned others the same bear was defending cubs in that corridor.
Story Snapshot
- Parks Canada warned of a female grizzly with cubs showing defensive behavior near Numa Pass.
- A solo hiker reported a bluff charge around 9:30 a.m. south of Numa Pass on August 25, 2026.
- Parks Canada confirmed a solo hiker was bluff charged by the adult female in that area.
- Media reported the runner faced a mother grizzly and two cubs and admitted mistakes.
What Happened On The Rockwall
Keith Kerr set out on a morning run on the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park. Around 9:30 a.m., he reached open meadows about 500 meters south of Numa Pass. He encountered a female grizzly with cubs at close range. The bear bluff charged.
He later said he grabbed his phone instead of his bear spray, which he called a mistake he owned up to. Parks Canada later warned visitors about a female grizzly with a cub showing defensive behavior in that corridor.
Parks Canada’s bulletin named the exact zone: Floe Lake Trail, Floe Lake Campground, and Numa Pass. The agency said the female grizzly was frequenting the area and displaying aggressive defensive behavior.
That language matches common bear behavior when defending cubs at close range. The advisory came the day after the encounter date cited in local reports. The warning told people to travel in groups, make noise, and carry ready bear spray in those sections of the park.
Why The Bear Charged Without Striking
Wildlife officers treat many mother-with-cubs charges as defensive. A bluff charge is a rush meant to intimidate, not to make contact. The United States National Park Service and Parks Canada both describe these short, loud rushes as warnings that end with a sudden stop or veer.
Most happen when a person surprises a bear at close range, or ends up between a mother and her cubs. The typical response guidance is to stand ground and prepare bear spray.
‘Thought this was going to be it for me’: Alberta hiker recounts grizzly showdown https://t.co/F192XAxTC0
— CTV News Calgary (@CTVCalgary) August 29, 2026
Local reporting states the bear closed the distance more than once and stopped short. Some outlets say there were two cubs and up to four bluff charges. Others count a fast first rush, then a tense standoff. These differences are normal in fast events.
A solo runner met a mother grizzly with cubs at close range, and the bear chose intimidation over contact. Parks Canada confirmed a solo hiker was bluff-charged by the adult female.
The Exact Where And When
The timing lines up across sources. The encounter happened Tuesday morning, August 25, 2026, near Numa Pass on the Rockwall. The spot lies just south of the pass in open meadows, where sightlines can be wide but brush and slopes can still hide wildlife until the last seconds.
The next day, the agency issued a bear warning for Numa Pass and nearby Floe Lake. The park’s trail page showed those areas flagged while Rockwall Pass itself remained open.
One CTV summary placed the run in Yoho National Park, but other coverage and the Parks Canada bulletins point to Kootenay National Park’s Numa Pass corridor.
The difference does not alter the core facts: a mother grizzly with cubs bluff-charged a solo runner near Numa Pass, and officials warned hikers in that exact corridor about the same defensive behavior. A report also said the runner met a mother grizzly and her cubs, reinforcing that central detail.
What The Runner Owned Up To
Kerr told reporters he should have pulled his bear spray first, not his phone. He said the situation was “100%” his responsibility. That matches standard backcountry sense. Carry spray on your chest or hip, not in a pack. Keep it unlocked in bear country. Make noise on blind corners and in thick cover.
Move around fresh sign and berry patches in late summer. Most charges end without contact, but seconds matter when a bear closes fast.
How To Hike That Corridor Without Drama
Hike in groups and talk often. Slow down where sightlines shrink. Scan for cubs and give them wide space. If you see a mother grizzly, back away slowly while facing her. Do not run. Speak in a calm voice. Ready your spray and set a tree or boulder between you and the bears if you can.
If a charge comes, stand your ground and deploy spray at close range. These steps align with what Parks Canada teaches and with what most defensive charges look like.
Sources:
foxnews.com, parks.canada.ca, rmoutlook.com, globalsummitguide.com, greatdividetrail.com
