Man Drops his Gun and Runs for his Life on a Snowmobile as Polar Bear Charges Towards Him

A man fleeing from an attacking polar bear in the Arctic Circle.

A man narrowly escaped a potentially deadly encounter with a polar bear in the Arctic Circle after the massive predator charged at him in a tense scene caught on camera on Sunday, April 27.

The incident unfolded when the individual spotted the polar bear running in his direction. In a moment of panic and quick decision-making, he appeared to fire warning shots in an attempt to deter the animal. The video, captured by witnesses, shows the bear momentarily pausing—before suddenly resuming its charge.

Man manages to outrun polar bear on snowmobile in the Arctic Circle.

Realizing the imminent danger, the man abandoned his position and jumped onto a nearby snowmobile. He quickly accelerated across the icy terrain, narrowly outrunning the bear, which chased him briefly before abandoning the pursuit. Onlookers, clearly shaken by the scene, can be heard praising the man’s courage, calling him “very brave” and reacting with disbelief at the encounter.

Man manages to outrun polar bear on snowmobile in the Arctic Circle

After the chase ended, the polar bear sat calmly in the snow, surveyed its surroundings, and then walked away in the opposite direction. The precise location of the event was not disclosed, but it took place within the Arctic Circle, where such encounters have become more common due to climate and environmental changes.

Polar bears are increasingly spending more time on land and approaching human settlements as sea ice melts due to warming Arctic temperatures. This change in behavior has led to a rise in human-polar bear interactions, some of which have resulted in tragic outcomes.

A polar bear attempting to attack a man in the Arctic Circle

Experts from conservation groups have warned that climate change is disrupting the natural hunting grounds of polar bears. With sea ice breaking up earlier in the season, bears are forced inland in search of food. Alysa McCall, director of conservation outreach at Polar Bears International, has previously noted that normally, healthy polar bears hunting seals on sea ice have little incentive to attack humans. However, when deprived of their usual food sources, they may become more aggressive or curious.

McCall has also advised that in the rare case of a polar bear attack, individuals should not play dead—a strategy that works for some bear species but not for polar bears. Instead, people should fight back as aggressively as possible to survive.

This latest close call highlights the growing risk posed by shrinking Arctic habitats and the critical need for both public awareness and environmental action.