California ultrarunner crashes into bear during run

In early July, Jon-Kyle Mohr, an experienced ultrarunner, was just one mile away from completing a 50-mile run that led his home in June Lake, Calif., over the Sierra Nevada and into Yosemite Valley. His finish line was within sight when he suddenly spotted a massive black shape charging toward him, as reported by the LA Times.

Mohr, 33, felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, followed by a powerful shove that sent him stumbling in the dark. As he regained his balance, people camping nearby shone their headlamps in his direction, shouting, “Bear!” Mohr was standing in front of a large adult black bear—and the collision surprised both him and the bear. The crash had knocked a bag of garbage from the now-unhappy bear’s mouth, and before Mohr could fully process the situation, the bear charged him again.

Mohr began yelling and banging his running poles on the pavement. Nearby campers joined in, shouting and clanging pots and pans to scare the bear away. The noise worked, and the bear disappeared into the darkness. Mohr’s clothes were torn, and he had a few scratches, but no serious injuries. “It sounds like the bear and I had equally crazy days,” Mohr said.

Mohr considers himself lucky, noting that if the bear had wanted to cause real harm, it easily could have. Black bear sightings are common in Yosemite, but attacks or collisions like Mohr’s are rare. One park ranger mentioned that in decades of service, he had never seen anything like it. While the number of bear incidents in the park is down this year (2023 saw a total of 38), bears have been more active in Yosemite Valley recently, due to a ripening crop of raspberries.

4 times runners encountered unexpected wildlife

(Canadian) bear safety while running

Bear incidents are also a concern for runners and hikers in Canada, where encounters can be more frequent in certain areas. Canadian runners are advised to carry bear spray and make noise while running to avoid surprising bears. Notable incidents in recent years include attacks in Alberta and British Columbia, where runners have been injured despite taking precautions.

Mohr’s encounter serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the need for vigilance, even when on a familiar trail. His quick thinking and the assistance of nearby campers likely prevented a more serious outcome, emphasizing the importance of staying calm and using noise to deter bears in such situations.

WATCH: B.C. runner records skyrocketing heart rate during bear encounter

The video shows a woman running in Shawnigan Lake, B.C., during a terrifying run-in with two bears while out on a trail run. While bears should be avoided at all costs, apparently they do cause an unintended training effect.