A bear was spotted hiding behind a tree to avoid being seen by a dog walker.
The large animal was seen lurking outside a house in a built-up area as it notices a man approaching with his pet pooch.
The bear quickly hops onto its back legs and takes cover behind a tree on the pavement.
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After it while, it drops to its four paws to check where the man is before resuming its standing position behind the tree.
The dog walker then notices the bear’s movements and yanks his pet away to give it a wide berth.
He is seen sprinting down the road as the stocky beast calmly wanders off in the same direction.
The scary encounter was filmed in the Mexican city of Monterrey on Tuesday (Nov 26).
One local said: “It’s obvious the cameraperson doesn’t like his neighbour, he didn’t even warn him about the danger!”
Another joked: “The bear was working undercover, hiding is part of his job.”
Mary wrote: “That guy is still running, I just saw him in Mexico City.”
Francisco commented: “The bear: ‘If I don’t move, they won’t see me’.”
Tabatha remarked: “The bear: ‘Who are we running from?’”
Bears have been appearing in urban areas in the state of Nuevo León more frequently in recent years, as reported by What’s The Jam.
The Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon said: “Unfortunately, deforestation, uncontrolled urbanisation, and climate change are affecting their food sources in the mountains, forcing them to move closer to towns and cities.”
If encountering a bear, the local authorities advise people to stay calm and keep a safe distance.
They should make themselves noticeable without appearing threatening, speaking in a soft tone and avoiding sudden movements.
They should also slowly back away without turning their back, always keeping the animal in sight.
Bears usually attack when they feel threatened or surprised.
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