There’s a lot of amazing wildlife out there, but most people would prefer not to come face-to-face with some of it. That includes this oil rig worker who had an encounter with a polar bear.
Check out the video:
The video is surprisingly casual considering the situation. The original video comes from TikTok user “riglife101,” who documents life on an oil rig. This scene happened in Alaska, where a worker met a polar bear just outside the gate.
The curious bear quietly grunts as it tries to find a way behind the bars. The animal continues to pace as the person recording the video says, “come on, go on,” and other things to try and get the polar bear to leave. Shortly after, the video shows two additional polar bears making their way to the rig.
Eventually, the bear rests its face on the bars. The worker replies with a simple, “Hey, sweetheart.”
It’s an almost cute interaction, even though encounters like this are known to be extremely dangerous for both the human and the bear.
Obviously, the person in the video is safely behind a gate, but what happens if you’re someone exploring the Alaskan wilderness?
Polar Bear Safety
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says to never approach a polar bear. If you do spot one, move to a safe shelter such as a vehicle or building. If there is no shelter nearby, you should group up with other people and prepare to use deterrents like firearms and bear spray.
If the bear does approach, use the deterrents. It’s important to stand your ground and not run. Despite polar bears being listed under the Endangered Species Act, it is permissible to use deadly force to defend your life. Finally, if it all goes wrong and the bear attacks, you must fight back. Unlike with grizzly bears, “playing dead” will not help.