🐻🌲 Wildlife Encounters on the Trail

Last week, I finally joined my first group mountain bike ride of the season. I usually volunteer once a week with our local high school bike club, and those rides often overlap with the group MTB night—so I haven’t been able to make both. But with the school rides wrapped for the summer, I had a free evening to join in.

At the trailhead, I ran into another ride leader and asked how his weekend went. “Bear encounter,” he said—and just like that, we were swapping stories about our closest calls over the years.

If you spend enough time outdoors, you’ll eventually share the trail with something wild. I’ve crossed paths with porcupine, fox, coyote, bear, fisher, wolf, deer, and snake—each encounter totally random, and usually when I least expected it.

That’s the real lesson: Be ready for the unexpected. Wildlife moments aren’t scheduled, and every story starts with surprise.

In this article, I’m sharing a few of my own close calls—what happened, how I reacted, and how those experiences shaped the way I prepare now. These aren’t expert tips or safety advice—just personal stories that might help you feel a little more prepared for the moment when your quiet trail ride turns into something a bit more memorable.

— Adam

These articles are your jumping-off point: a few standout moments to inspire your own ride, walk, or weekend trip.

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Alone Encounter | Coyotes at the Pond

📍When It Happened
About four years ago, late fall. I was walking alone at night on a 2 km paved loop trail around a pond near my house. It was dark—no lights on the path—so I had a camping headlamp strapped on.

👀 The Encounter
Near the end of my walk, the trail dipped and curved. That’s when I spotted two coyotes ahead—lit up by the beam of my headlamp. Their eyes caught the light. So did their shadows.

🗣️ What I Did
I shouted. Loud. Started clapping my hands to make more noise. Jumped up and down to look bigger. And here’s the key detail: the wind was coming from their direction. They couldn’t smell me. Instead of running off, they got more curious. They kept coming.

🎒What I Learned

• Carry a whistle. I always bring one now during fall/winter night walks—it's louder and easier than yelling.

• Check the wind. If it’s in your face, animals downwind won’t smell you. That can change how they react.

Encounter w/ Dog | Standoff with a Wolf

📍When It Happened
About ten years ago, on a winter afternoon. I was snowshoeing with my now-wife and our dog Roxy (a large Rottweiler mix). A cross-country skier passed us on the trail and casually said: “Look out for the deer—I saw a couple just ahead.” As we veered off the main trail for a quick pit stop, we started heading back toward the car.

👀 The Encounter
Just ahead, standing broadside across the trail—a large wolf. Roughly 300 feet away. Watching us.

🗣️ What We Did
We quickly removed our snowshoes and started banging them together while shouting. But the wolf didn’t flinch. With Roxy at our side, we realized: it was focused on her.

It began to approach—slowly, deliberately. We kept backing up, not turning our backs. Once we were far enough and out of its line of sight, we quietly took a different route back.

🎒What I Learned

• Size doesn’t always deter. Even with a large dog beside us, the wolf was still interested—likely seeing Roxy as competition or prey.

• Environmental cues matter.

  • There were deer in the area (as the skier mentioned).

  • We had just stepped off-trail to pee.

  • The wolf may have interpreted our scent and position as a territorial challenge.

This wasn’t a random encounter—it had context. And we were likely on its turf.

Family Encounter | Bear at Trailhead

📍When It Happened
About two years ago, on a summer afternoon. We were heading out as a family to explore the forest doubletrack trails in our neighborhood greenbelt. It was our son’s first time riding in the woods, so we didn’t plan to go far.

👀 The Encounter
We parked at a trailhead located at the end of a quiet dead-end street. Just as we were returning—a black bear wandered into the front yard of the house right beside us. (Similar to the Instagram photo above.)

🗣️ What We Did
No hesitation—we dropped the bikes and got into the car. Windows up. Doors locked. Waited it out. After a few tense minutes, the bear moved on and disappeared into the woods beside the house.

🎒What I Learned

• Wildlife shows up when you least expect it. I’d parked at that exact spot dozens of times and never once saw an animal. Then suddenly—there’s a bear, 20 feet away.

• Even familiar places can surprise you.
  We weren’t deep in the woods. We were at the edge of a neighborhood, just out for a family ride.

Each one of these encounters was random and completely unexpected. I won’t sugarcoat it—every moment was tense, heart-pounding, and memorable.

Here’s what I took away from each:

• 🦊 Walking Alone at Night (Coyotes)
  Wind direction matters—if they can’t smell you, they might come closer out of curiosity.
  ➤ Now I always carry a whistle on night walks.

• 🐺 Snowshoeing with a Dog (Wolf)
  A big dog doesn’t guarantee safety. Wildlife may see them as competition or prey.
  ➤ We backed away slowly and took a different route once we were out of sight.

• 🐻 Family Ride by the Greenbelt (Bear)
  Wildlife isn’t just “out there.” It can show up in your neighborhood too.
  ➤ Stay calm, get in the car, and don’t assume familiar spots are wildlife-free.

Feeling cautious—or just curious? If you spend time outdoors, it’s only a matter of time before you cross paths with wildlife. The GTMTB Custom Assistant can help you prepare, wherever you ride, walk, or hike.

Use it to:

• 🐻 Learn what wildlife you might encounter in your area

• 🌲 Get region-specific tips on trail safety and awareness

• 🦉 Discover low-traffic trails or alternate routes if needed

• 🚴 Build a plan that fits your family, your comfort level, and the season

📍Try this prompt:
“Wildlife awareness + [your area]”
to get a location-based overview of what to expect—and how to stay smart on the trail.

Because the best outdoor days are the ones you’re ready for.

👉 Click here to open GTMTB the Assistant. 

(No app or setup—just confirm your email if prompted.)

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