NHL Mascot’s Close Call With Brown Bear in Alaskan National Park Has People Holding Their Breath originally appeared on PetHelpful.
Katmai National Park in Alaska is a treasure trove of natural wonders, but the park’s most famous feature is its bear population. Brown bears regularly gather at Brooks River to fish for salmon in the summer time, and it’s the perfect place to observe them without getting too close. Well, most of the time!
The NHL’s Seattle Kraken recently shared a nerve-wracking video from their early summer trip to Alaska, in which their mascot, a sea troll named Buoy, encounters a massive bear. Several people were fishing in Brooks River when a massive brown bear decided they got a bit too close for comfort.
How was everyone so calm? Bears are to be expected in this National Park, that’s true, but seeing one running at you would cause almost anyone to panic.
In hindsight, it’s smart that they didn’t run. That’s the number one thing not to do when you come face to face with a bear! Not even professional athletes like these hockey players could outrun a determined animal.
Technically, they shouldn’t have turned their backs on the huge bear, either, as this shows the bear that you’re vulnerable and not looking. In this case, however, getting back to dry land safely was the biggest concern.
It’s funny how, with so many people nearby, the bear is so fixated on Buoy. I wonder if it thought he was another bear! Regardless of what led up to this scary encounter, there’s no question that the mascot stole the show during this terrifying bear encounter.
“Life is in danger and refusing to take off the costume head is incredible commitment to the gimmick,” one commenter appreciated. Buoy had every reason to be headed for the hills (pun intended), but he stayed just as cool, calm, and collected as the rest of the team.
Brown Bears v. Grizzly Bears
Is this a brown bear or a grizzly bear giving Buoy a run for his money? News outlets have used both terms to describe the bear when sharing this story, but Katmai National Park is ready to end the debate for good.
According to the National Park Service, the only bears in Katmai are brown bears. Grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear, but the exact difference boils down to where the bear resides.
If a brown bear does not have access to marine-derived food resources, like salmon, it’s considered a grizzly. The bears, like the ones at Katmai, who do have access to coastal resources, though, are just brown bears.
Whatever you want to call the massive bear, the hockey team’s calm reaction is still shocking to watch. Being charged by a bear must be so scary!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
NHL Mascot’s Close Call With Brown Bear in Alaskan National Park Has People Holding Their Breath first appeared on PetHelpful on Aug 9, 2025
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.