The wild doesn’t care how experienced you are. When you step into nature, you’re on its turf—and sometimes, nature shows up with claws, fangs, and zero chill. These aren’t tall tales or campfire myths. These are real, adrenaline-pumping stories of hikers and explorers who came face-to-face with animals that could’ve ended them—and somehow lived to tell the story.
Some escaped by pure luck. Others survived with grit, instinct, or straight-up miracles. These 12 encounters remind us that “outdoorsy” doesn’t always mean scenic hikes and pretty waterfalls. Sometimes, it means staring death in the face and walking away anyway.
1. Todd Orr vs. a Grizzly Bear (Montana, 2016)
Todd Orr was scouting elk alone in the Montana backcountry when he stumbled across a mother grizzly and her cubs. She attacked him at full speed, mauling his arm and shoulder before running off. As highlighted by Backpacker Magazine, bleeding and battered, Todd got up and started the 3-mile hike back to his truck—only for the same bear to come back and attack him again. Somehow, he survived both attacks.
With a shattered arm, deep gashes, and his scalp partially torn, Todd made it to his truck and drove himself to the hospital. He even filmed a video of his injuries before leaving the trail, saying calmly, “I’ve been mauled by a grizzly.” The video went viral. Apparently, surviving two bear attacks before lunch makes you a legend.
2. Bethany Hamilton vs. a Tiger Shark (Hawaii, 2003)
According to Bethany Hamilton’s website, at just 13 years old, professional surfer Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while paddling off the coast of Kauai. The shark bit off her entire left arm in a single strike. Miraculously, she stayed calm, paddled to shore with one arm, and didn’t pass out despite losing over 60% of her blood.
Bethany not only survived—she returned to competitive surfing one month later. Her story became the inspiration for the movie Soul Surfer and a symbol of resilience. That shark may have taken her arm, but it didn’t take her spirit.
3. Paul Templer vs. a Hippopotamus (Zimbabwe, 1996)
According to CNN, Paul was leading a canoe safari down the Zambezi River when a massive hippo emerged from the water and capsized the boat. Before he could react, the hippo grabbed Paul in its jaws and pulled him under. It crushed his arm, threw him into the air, and dragged him under three separate times.
Somehow, Paul escaped. His friend was killed in the attack, but Paul lived with over 40 severe bite wounds and a partially amputated arm. He later wrote a memoir about the experience, casually titled What’s Left of Me. Because when a hippo tries to eat you and fails, you get to name your book whatever you want.
4. Erin Greene vs. a Mountain Lion (California, 2023)
In a rare and horrifying attack, 24-year-old Erin Greene was hiking near her home when a mountain lion lunged out of the woods and grabbed her small dog. When she tried to intervene, the cat turned on her. She was clawed, bitten, and dragged several feet before managing to fight back with a hiking stick.
Covered in blood and shaking, she made it to a ranger station where she was airlifted to a hospital. Her dog didn’t survive, but Erin did—with permanent scars and the wildest “what happened this weekend?” story of all time. Wildlife officials later euthanized the cat after confirming its involvement. Erin said she’ll keep hiking—but now she never goes alone.
5. Robert Biggs vs. a Bear—and a Mountain Lion (California, 2012)
This one reads like fan fiction, but it really happened. Robert Biggs was hiking in Whiskey Flats when he saw a bear and her cub. As he turned to leave, a mountain lion leapt onto his back out of nowhere. Biggs tried to fight it off with a rock, and then the bear attacked the lion.
According to Biggs, the mother bear saved his life by pulling the mountain lion off and chasing it away. He escaped with only scratches. This man was caught in a bear-lion showdown and walked away. Nature documentaries wish they had this kind of drama.
6. Alex McNeill vs. a Moose (Canada, 2019)
While solo hiking through Alberta, Alex stumbled into the path of a mother moose with a calf. He backed away slowly, but it wasn’t enough—the moose charged and knocked him flat. With hooves the size of dinner plates, the animal stomped toward him repeatedly.
Alex curled into a ball and used his pack as a shield. After a terrifying two-minute standoff, the moose finally backed off. He hiked 5 miles to the nearest road with a concussion and cracked ribs. Forget bears—moose don’t bluff.
7. Antoine Senni vs. a Great White Shark (South Africa, 2005)
While diving in a shark cage off the coast of South Africa, Antoine watched in horror as a 15-foot great white rammed the cage and broke through the bars. The shark thrashed inside the cage with him for nearly a minute. With no scuba gear and nowhere to go, Antoine wedged himself into a corner and hoped for the best.
The shark eventually wriggled back out of the cage and swam off. Antoine escaped without injury—but he never went cage diving again. Because sometimes, even the cage isn’t enough.
8. Kay LeClaire vs. a Polar Bear (Canada, 2010)
At a remote Arctic research station, Kay woke up to the sound of a polar bear breaking into her tent. She screamed, and the bear grabbed her leg and dragged her outside. Her colleagues fought it off with metal rods and flares until it finally retreated.
Kay was airlifted out with serious injuries but survived. Polar bears rarely encounter humans, but when they do, it’s rarely friendly. She now advocates for better wildlife protection gear in Arctic expeditions. And probably sleeps in concrete bunkers.
9. Richard Wesley vs. a Black Bear (Canada, 2017)
Caught on GoPro, this terrifying encounter shows Richard archery hunting in Ontario when a black bear stalks toward him—then charges. Richard punches the bear in the face, and it runs off. Yes, you read that right: he punched a bear in the face.
Miraculously, he walked away without a scratch. The video went viral for obvious reasons. “I should’ve had bear spray,” Richard later admitted. But honestly, the man used his fists. Who needs spray?
10. Jim Cole vs. a Grizzly (Montana, multiple times)
Jim Cole, a grizzly bear expert, has been attacked twice in his career. Once, he was charged by a grizzly while photographing in Yellowstone. He suffered a shattered nose, ripped ear, and claw marks across his face. The second time, he was bitten in the leg and nearly bled out.
He says he doesn’t blame the bears—he respects them. But even the most seasoned experts can find themselves on the wrong end of an apex predator. Jim now travels with satellite tracking and tells people to never get comfortable around wild animals. Because the bears never are.
11. Shannon Stevens vs. a Bear in an Outhouse (Alaska, 2021)
This one’s unforgettable. Shannon was using a backcountry outhouse when she suddenly felt something bite her butt. She screamed, jumped up, and realized a bear had reached through the bottom of the pit toilet and nipped her from below.
Her brother investigated and confirmed a bear had somehow crawled into the outhouse from underneath. Shannon was treated for minor injuries and a lifetime of trauma. Bears are terrifying. Bears in toilets? A whole different level.
12. Nahtanha & Dustin Duthie vs. a Cougar (British Columbia, 2022)
This couple was hiking near their remote cabin when they noticed a cougar tracking them. When it finally lunged at Dustin, Nahtanha screamed and threw a rock, hitting the cougar in the face. The animal paused long enough for them to grab sticks and fight it off.
They made it home safely, but barely. Cougar attacks are extremely rare, which makes them even more terrifying when they happen. In this case, love and rage—and a really good aim—saved the day.