COLUMBUS, Ohio – Celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna tells hikers to carry pepper spray, and he has seen for himself how useful that advice is during a run-in with three grizzly bears.
The Columbus Zoo keeper and frequent David Letterman guest says he was with his wife and other hikers in Montana’s Glacier National Park on Saturday when they saw the mother bear and two large cubs coming toward them. Hanna and the others moved slowly back up the trail to a clearing and stood still while the mother and one cub passed by.
Hanna says the other cub, weighing about 125 pounds, charged toward the hikers. He pulled out pepper spray got the bear in the face, causing it to flee.
Hanna recently filmed a message for the national parks encouraging people to carry pepper spray when hiking.