Megan W., who goes by @smoky.mountain.soul on Instagram, shared a recording of the incident on social media. She says the entire ordeal was about 45 minutes long. 

In reply to another comment, Megan said she eventually escaped after throwing a pack of trail mix at the bear, which gave her time to get away and call 911. She says the bear returned right when the help arrived.

Megan says she wanted to share the video as a reminder that black bears can be aggressive and that everyone should take proper safety measures while hiking. However, that didn’t stop some from being critical of her post.

“I admittedly had been lured into a false sense of security based on past experience with black bears, my lack of even seeing them throughout my hundreds of miles of hiking, and the overall narrative around here that black bears aren’t aggressive,” posted Megan in response to negative comments. “I am an avid hiker and ‘bear aware’ of proper protocol, so I am not ignorant or stupid, but I am the first to admit that I made a careless, foolish choice to go without protection when I changed plans last minute by myself.”

Black Bear Safety

The truth is black bear attacks are extremely rare. The North American Bear Center says there are only 61 recorded deadly black bear attacks in North America since 1900. Your chances of being killed by a pet dog, bee or lightning are higher. 

However, safety is still important, and incidents happen, including two separate issues in Colorado this year. One involved a camper bit by a bear while relaxing in a hammock. The other involved a security guard who came face to face with a bear that broke into a hotel kitchen. 

If you do come across a black bear while hiking:

• No matter what, do not run.
• Make loud noises like clapping your hands or yelling.
• Fight back if the bear attacks you.

Grizzly bears, the black bear cousin, are far more aggressive, with multiple incidents and deaths recorded this year. The grizzly territory is much smaller than that of the black bear, and is only found in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington State and Alaska.

The post This Terrifying Video From Great Smoky Mountains National Park Reminds Us to Stay Aware Around Black Bears appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

The topic recently came up on Reddit’s Survival group. The comments are a mix of old-timey solutions and science-backed answers. So, what really works? Let’s take a look.

The “Skunk Smell”

According to Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources, a skunk spray comes from the animal’s anal glands containing several “volatile chemical compounds.” The stink is thiols and thioacetates, which have a lot of sulfur. That’s what gives the smell of rotten eggs. Those two compounds also stick together, so the scent stays on your clothes or dog.

How Do You Get Rid of the Stink?

Here’s what r/survival followers had to say as a possible solution.

R/Zealousideal-Win9169 suggests the classic technique of tomato juice, saying, “Grandfather used it on his hunting dogs. I tried it. Covered the whole pooch, gave a good scrub, let it sit for 15-20 mins, then rinsed with dish soap and warm water. Worked really well.”

Others, like r/jlt131, say they had firsthand experience with a store-bought product. They said, “There’s a product at most pet stores called Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover. I walked into the store one day. The guy at the front winced, held his nose, and said, ‘aisle 4, left side, bottom shelf.’ It must have been pretty obvious why I was there.”

Finally, the most popular response to how to get rid of the skunk smell uses a chemical solution to fight the skunk’s stinky formula.

R/Vegetable-Shoulder78’s post said to use “One quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle), ¼ cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap. Vinegar will neutralize the smell depending on how bad it is.”

This solution had by far the most backing. Including a reply from r/manlygirl100, who suggests they’re a chemist. They said, “That formula works well because the dish soap will allow the oil to be washed away by water (think cleaning bacon grease off a pan). The hydrogen peroxide will oxidize the thiol to dithiol, which is two sulfurs bonded to each other (S-S), which don’t smell. It’s not perfect because you must wash a few times to remove the oil. And the peroxide oxidation isn’t super fast, but at least that’s the chemistry behind it.”

This solution also has the backing of The Humane Society of the United States, which uses the same formula. They recommend you clean sensitive areas such as eyes with cool running water.

Have you ever encountered a skunk while hiking?

The post How Do You Get Rid of the Skunk Smell? Reddit Weighs In appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

While Circumnavigate will be their first podcast as hosts, neither adventurer are new to the podcast world. Grylls and Peterson have both made dozens of appearances on other shows, tackling a variety of subjects.

Episode 1 of Circumnavigate airs October 16. Subscribe here so you don’t miss it:

• YOUTUBE
• SPOTIFY
• APPLE PODCASTS

Here is a look at some of the best episodes you can check out before the premiere of “Circumnavigate.”

Bear Grylls

“Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle” Episode 158 

Your Last Meal is a show focused on celebrity guests explaining what their “last meal” would be. For Bear Grylls, a survivalist known for eating bugs and other stomach-churning things to stay alive, you have to wonder what he would choose as a final bite to eat. In the show, Bear goes into surprising things he’s had to eat. However, he also discusses what he prefers to eat.

“Literally! With Rob Lowe” Bear Grylls: The Green Monkey

Playing off his character from Parks and Rec, actor Rob Lowe’s podcast focuses on casual conversations with celebrity guests. When Bear steps by, the two discuss pushing through fear, whether that’s an everyday challenge or in a survival situation. Bear also shares his respect for Mother Nature and stories from past adventures.

“The High Performance Podcast” – Episode 100: Bear Grylls

The High Performance Podcast focuses on life lessons from well-known artists, musicians, athletes and others. In the episode with Grylls, he shares his experience dealing with failure and how family is the center of his life in most of his decision-making. The episode also goes in-depth on Bear Grylls’ motto of “never give up” and what that means in everyday life.

Coyote Peterson

“Wild Ride! With Steve-O!” Season 1 Episode 41

If there’s someone who can endure pain like Coyote Peterson does stings and bites from wild animals, it’s probably Steve-O. The comedian best known as a member of Jackass has made a whole career out of getting hurt. Peterson, on the other hand, uses his pain for education. However, the two find common ground when discussing some of their most intense moments. 

“Macrodosing: Arian Foster and PFT Commenter” Most Painful Animals ft. Coyote Peterson

Macrodosing is a podcast focused on deep dives into conspiracy theories, history and more. When Coyote Peterson stops by, the conversation focuses on the most painful animal bites and stings. Peterson obviously has a wealth of knowledge on this topic. Besides that, Peterson shares some of his background and how he used YouTube to grow his brand. He also shares a list of his favorite reptiles. 

“Meetings Today Podcast”

When you think about naturalists and the outdoors, Columbus, Ohio, probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. However, that is what Peterson has called home for years. Columbus is where Peterson and his team have grown their own media company focused on wildlife education. In this podcast, Peterson shares some behind-the-scenes that have led him to become a successful entrepreneur and made him a big name in conservation.

Remember to subscribe today to Circumnavigate so you don’t miss an episode.

The post Get Ready to ‘Circumnavigate’ with the Best Podcast Episodes Featuring Bear Grylls and Coyote Peterson appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Bear had previously undergone Special Air Service (SAS) training and served in the 21 SAS, part of the U.K. Special Forces Reserves for three years, from 1994 to 1997, so he was familiar with military training. 

The French Foreign Legion is a corps of the French Army, which was created in 1831 and is open to foreign recruits. The training is notoriously tough, so Bear wanted to see what it would be like to go through the basic training.

To film the series, he went to the Sahara Desert in north Africa with a camera crew to endure the simulated basic training. 

Marching, Crawling, Fighting, and Being Buried Alive

So what was it like? “Gritty, exhausting and as hot as hell in the Western Saharan summer. Twelve of us recruits got whittled down to four at the hands of some of the most brutal and draining military training techniques imaginable,” wrote Bear in his 2011 autobiography Mud, Sweat and Tears.

Bear says they were marching, crawling, and fighting from dawn to dusk—shifting hillsides of rocks, being buried alive, and running everywhere 24/7. 

He says they were blister-ridden and sleep-deprived. “We ate camel skin stew and

stale bread, and day after day, week after week, we dragged our sorry carcasses through the desert until we dropped under the weight of our packs, which were full of sand,” he says.

“A month of being thrashed around the north African desert by French Foreign Legionnaires to show what it is like to go through basic training with France’s band of mercenary soldiers was a baptism by fire into the world of filming and TV,” wrote Bear in his second autobiography Never Give Up in 2021.

The Payoff

Thankfully, the payoff was great. The show was a hit—Bear’s first hit on U.K. television, and it became the show that ultimately launched his TV career. 

“[Escape to the Legion] opened the door to allow me to do a big U.S. show for Discovery Channel. And therein was born Man vs. Wild,” said Bear.

While Bear described the experience on Escape to the Legion as both tough and grim, he also says he made a few lifelong buddies from some of the recruits and crew. In fact, he still counts Bobby Abedeen and Will Collis among his friends and says that camera operator Paul Mungeam (Mungo), whom he describes as “a legend of a man,” is still his lead cameraman to this day.

Watch the Full Episode here:

The post Baptism by Fire: Bear Grylls’ First TV Show Had Him Marching, Crawling, and Buried Alive appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Here are some online classes you can check out to help you learn the basics of foraging.

The Online Class for Beginners

The Herbal Academy
Cost: Starting at $50

A quick Google search will land plenty of ads and results for the Herbal Academy. The popularity comes from national attention and features in magazines like Us Weekly and Elle. 

The organization generally focuses on herbalism, medicines, and foraging. One of the best benefits of their courses is their price. The beginner foraging class is just over $50, so it’s a great way to learn more without over-committing or breaking the bank.

The online foraging class runs through five lessons, starting with identifying plants and teaching how to prepare and eat them.

Traditional Learning With a Focus on Foraging

Centre for Excellence
Cost: $141

For a more in-depth course, there is the Centre for Excellence foraging class. The class is 150 hours long and covers foraging in different seasons. Specific sections focus on mushrooms and psychotropics, which are plants and fungi that alter your mind.

The Centre for Excellence is based in the UK but is an internationally recognized online learning platform with courses in various topics.

The organization’s foraging class is $141 for the single class, and payment plans are also available.

Focus on Mushroom Foraging

Mushroom Exam
Cost: $15-$45

This may be the right course for you if you want to increase your knowledge and foraging expertise in mushrooms.

Mushroom Exam is a website created by mycologists focused on helping others identify mushrooms. Mushrooms run from sweet snacks to highly poisonous, so understanding what you have is critical.

One of the best benefits of this site is you can try out the intro course for free to see if you like Mushroom Exam’s teaching style. From there, you can take specific courses on identifying mushrooms in places like the UK or US. They also have seminars in morel mushrooms and psychedelics. These online foraging classes range in price from $15 to $45.

The post From Mushrooms to Berries, You Can Make Your World More Edible With These Online Foraging Classes appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Bear Grylls shared new details about Running Wild and his life philosophies when he called into the Stay Free with Russell Brand podcast. 

Brand is best known as a comedian and actor who’s appeared in movies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. Brand also writes and discusses his struggles with addiction and recovery, while focusing heavily on philosophy and related topics. All of these subjects are a big focus of his podcast.

Bear and Brand first met and became friends after Brand filmed an upcoming episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls. 

On the podcast, the two discuss the show, Bear’s adventures, his connection with those who have served, and, of course, surviving in the world.

Here’s a look at the best moments of the podcast.

New Behind-the-Scenes Details About Running Wild 

It’s not easy to imagine Russell Brand in the outdoors, but it is easy to imagine he would be an entertaining guest on Bear’s show. The two sounded like they had a great time filming, and Bear said Brand is the exact kind of guest he loves to have on Running Wild, people who are willing to go outside their comfort zone. 

“There were moments in the show where I was actually generally terrified,” says Brand.

However, Bear was candid with his response and said even big-name Hollywood action stars faced uncomfortable moments on the show. People like Zach Efron admitted their trepidation for going off the beaten path.

Filming the show has since inspired Brand to take up rock climbing. 

Bear Shares What Adventure He Would Never Do Again 

On the podcast, Brand asks Bear which adventure he would avoid doing again.

Bear explains that adventure starts when something goes wrong. He’s faced significant threats, from faulty parachutes to snake bites. 

However, one trip came to mind—a trip up toward the Arctic with five others on an inflatable motor boat. The group traveled from Halifax, Nova Scotia up to Greenland, Iceland, and Scotland. Along the way, the group got trapped in massive storms, and it was extremely dangerous. 

Bear says while the situation created lifelong friendships, he learned to respect Mother Nature in a new way.

Bear’s Focus on the Men and Women Who Serve

The military will always hold a special place in Bear’s life, especially when bonding with those who serve. 

Bear, who served in Britain’s Territorial Army, says he always misses the camaraderie that the military creates. He tries to replicate that in his daily life by looking for certain qualities in the people he hires for his show or expeditions.

“We always hire based on character and people we like and can trust before the skills,” says Bear. “The skills you can teach, but loyalty, kindness and selflessness, those sort of qualities are harder to teach.” 

Sharing an Exclusive Clip of Brand Rappelling in Running Wild

One of the podcast’s funniest moments was an exclusive clip from Running Wild. In the clip, Bear works to calm Brand down before he rappels down a cliff. However, in true Brand-style humor, the comedian is wearing a kilt for the adventure and is a little exposed . . .

“True pity and apologies to the crew who were underneath you on that cliff face,” says Bear, joking about Brand’s Scottish kilt that is usually worn without any garments underneath. 

Surviving the Apocalypse

The two also chatted about survival throughout the episode, with a heavy focus on today’s modern comforts. Both Brand and Bear discuss over-reliance on technology and society’s current disconnect with nature. 

Bear used the opportunity to discuss the skills he believes are essential and the work of the Bear Grylls Survival Academy that teaches these skills. 

“The fundamental principle is that nature is our best healer,” says Bear. “It’s all great when everything works, like when that cell phone works. When everything is going great, it’s great. But what happens when the cell phone doesn’t work, or when you do find yourself in life on that back foot and you’re struggling a bit? To me, that’s when adventure happens and when life gets interesting, but you’ve got to have some skills to fall back on.”

Listen/Watch the Podcast

The Running Wild episode with Russell Brand comes to Disney+ on August 6, 2023.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you go for your shows, watch the video on Rumble, or catch it below: 

The post Five Great Moments from Bear Grylls’ Appearance on Russell Brand’s Podcast appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

A tent will not stay up by itself, after all. It needs to be securely attached to the ground, and it must also have secure guy ropes. The ropes hold up the tent, and the pegs anchor the ropes to the ground.

If a peg fails, it can lead to utter misery, as Bear Grylls recounts when he tells the story of a disastrous camping experience on his first ever mountaineering trip in his book Mud Sweat and Tears.

An Expensive Lesson

During his school days, Bear went camping in Mount Snowdon in Wales with his school friend Watty. Their backpacks were so heavy that they didn’t reach where they were going to camp until after midnight, and it was raining hard. Bear says that they put up their tents and did everything in a rush as they were so tired and wet, and they cut some corners.

At 3 AM, one of the pegs supporting the tent broke. Bear says that he assured himself that the other pegs were still in place, so he didn’t take action.

“Both Watty and I were just too tired to get out and repair the first break, and instead we blindly hoped it would somehow just sort itself out,” says Bear in Mud Sweat and Tears. “Tents don’t repair themselves, however tired you are, however much you wish they just would. Inevitably, the next peg broke, and before we knew it we were lying in a wet puddle of canvas, drenched to the skin, shivering, and truly miserable.”

When tension was lost from the first break, the rest of the tent was taking too much strain, so the remaining pegs gave way.

“The key lesson learnt that night was that when it comes to camping, a stitch in time saves nine; and time spent preparing a good camp is never wasted,” says Bear, who later wrote about the incident in Survival Guide for Life, saying that he “learnt a very valuable lesson about tents, and about life, too.”

Types of Tent Pegs

Using the pegs that came with your tent makes sense, but did you know there are many different types of pegs that suit various conditions, and there are different ways to use them, depending on the ground conditions? 

Bear Grylls lists the different types of pegs in Ultimate Survival Handbook. These include standard tent pegs, steel tent pegs, aluminum pegs, plastic pegs, wooden stakes, plastic twists, glow-in-the-dark pegs, aluminum pegs for sand, plastic pegs for sand, delta pegs, and sand anchors. Also useful is a peg puller tool and a mallet, which has a hook at the other end for removing pegs.

Placing Pegs

 “It is important to make sure your tent is stable and stays put so that you have proper shelter,” says Bear.

Always make sure that the rope is at a 90-degree angle to the peg. If you need more stability, use two pegs for extra security. Delta pegs make the hold very secure.

If you need extra back up, use a heavy rock to secure a peg if it will not go into the ground, or use piles of rocks to anchor your lines.

One of Bear’s favorite ways to anchor a tent peg in a mountain setting is to put the peg into a sleeping bag case, fill the case with snow, and then bury it.

In ice, you can place a tent peg into a hole in the ice for stability. You can also bury the peg in ice so that it freezes there and secures its hold. 

In the desert, bury the peg in sand to make a good anchor. Or, you can place heavy objects into a parachute anchor, add the peg, and then bury it.

What’s your favorite type of tent peg, and why?

The post These Tent Pegs Get a Bear Grylls Stamp of Approval. Here’s How to Use Them appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

The best way to avoid a snake bite is to stay away from snakes entirely. That isn’t always possible, of course, so it’s good to be prepared for the worst.

Depending on where you are in the world, the kind of snakes you could come in contact with will be different, and it’s important to know what to expect. The most frequently found snakes in North America that you need to avoid are coral snakes, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. In Mexico and South America, the tropical rattlesnake, fer-de-lance, and bushmaster are the most common snakes that you’ll want to take precautions against.

If you get bitten by a venomous snake, there are a few things that you should do next, according to Bear Grylls (click to enlarge).

Design by Clif Dickens/Outdoors.com

The post What To Do If You’re Bitten By a Snake: A Visual Guide appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

But what about the sea creatures that look harmless but may not be? 

Here are the unusual underwater creatures that Bear says you should avoid – and definitely avoid stepping on:

Blue-ringed octopus

It’s not often you hear of a ‘killer octopus’ (except in science fiction movies) but the blue-ringed octopus, which is found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, is the exception. It has yellow skin with blue and black rings, and although it appears small and docile, it has enough neurotoxin venom to kill 26 humans within minutes. The victim suffers total body paralysis and then loses consciousness. There’s no anti-venom, and victims need artificial respiration to survive.

Needlefish

These are long and slender, with a tiny dorsal fin. They can make short jumps out of the water at up to 37mph – they swim near the surface so they often leap over boats. They make deep wounds with their sharp beaks, and the beak often breaks off inside the victim.

Toadfish

These fish which look like toads live in the rivers and coasts of Central and South America. They often bury themselves in the sand so can be easily stepped on. They can inflict painful wounds through the venom-injecting spines on their dorsal fins.

Stonefish

It only reaches around 5lb in weight but the stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world, thanks to the venom it injects through grooves in its 13 spines. Stonefish are found in the shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific, often sitting on the bottom and blending in with their surroundings, so are easily stepped on. The venom can cause temporary paralysis and can be fatal if not treated.

Stingray

The stingray is mostly gentle but has a venomous barbed sting on the tail if it is under attack – which often happens if it is accidentally stepped on. Stings can result in pain, swelling, nausea, and cramps and can also cause later infection. Stings are painful but not usually fatal unless they hit the wrong spot.

Lionfish

This distinctive fish lives in the waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic coastal waters of the United States. It is distinguished by its 18 venomous spines. The venom causes pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, temporary paralysis, heart failure, and in some cases, death.

Sharks

A final word on sharks… “Although greatly feared, shark attacks on humans are extremely rare,” says Bear. “No species is thought to target people as prey.” 

Although multiple shark bites are reported annually, the average number of deaths annually from shark attacks is around four, and of the more than 470 species of shark, only four – the great white, oceanic whitetip, tiger, and bull shark – have been involved in a significant number of fatal, unprovoked attacks on humans. 

The post A Venomous Octopus, Fish That Look Like Toads and Other Sea Creatures To Avoid appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

However, Bear does not just rely on medical equipment, as he knows that there are also some fantastic natural antiseptics that he can use to survive in the wild if he is stuck and needs a last resort.

Sphagnum Moss

The springy-green sphagnum moss has amazing water retention properties - it can hold up to 26 times as much water as its weight. The moss has a natural source of iodine and as well as for cleaning, it can also be used as a dressing for a wound, a rash, or another injury. 

The moss was used to dress wounds during WW1, and Bear has often used it in the wild. 

“I used this in the Alps after cutting myself with my knife whilst making snow shoes,” says Bear in his book Born Survivor. “It worked perfectly: cleaning and stemming the wound.”

Wild Garlic

As well as being a tasty food, wild garlic also has medicinal properties and it was commonly used as a healing herb in ancient times as a remedy for all sorts of ailments but especially as an antiseptic.

A common way to use it as an antiseptic is to rub it on a wound. Bear says the best way to use it is to boil it and then use the water for the wound.

Salt Water

Bear advises that cleaning a wound with salt water can protect it and help to kill bacteria if you have no other option. 

Using salt water has long been a home remedy to gargle with salt water to ease a sore throat, and even today, it is often recommended as a remedy for tooth pain.

Bee Honey

Honey has been known to have powerful antiseptic properties since ancient times. As well as this, it can also help form a barrier over a wound, and keeps a wound moist, which also helps it to heal.

Bear likes to use honey either as it is, or to dissolve it in water, to take advantage of its powerful antiseptic properties.

Maggots

Finally, while most of us try to interact with maggots as little as possible, Bear has been known to ‘meet’ a few while out in the wild and rely on them as a food source when stuck. 

The critters can also come in handy in a survival medical situation.

“Never mock a maggot!” says Bear in Born Survivor. “As well as being a useful source of protein, the humble maggot also has some useful medicinal properties in a tight corner.”

If an open wound is becoming infected and deteriorating, using maggots to treat it might be an option as a last resort. How to do this is first, allow flies to crawl on the wound and lay their eggs. When the maggots appear, cover the wound. The maggots will ingest the dead tissue and pus.

“When fresh blood starts to appear, you know they have gone far enough and are starting on the healthy tissue,” says Bear. “Flush the maggots away and check regularly to make sure they are all gone.”

While this all sounds very difficult, in his book True Grit, Bear tells the story of how WWII prisoner Alistair Urquhart had to use maggots to survive dangerous, infected ulcers on his legs while in his cell. He also tells the story of how Juliane Koepcke, who fell two miles from a plane crash in the sky into a jungle, where she was lost for ten days, also experienced how maggot kept her wounds clean.

“Like I’ve said before, survival is rarely pretty,” says Bear.

The post How Bear Grylls Uses Natural Antiseptics In The Wild appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.