Altha’s prior interactions with bears had predominantly been non-confrontational. In most instances, the sight of her presence would send these creatures scurrying away, validating the widely-held belief that bears generally avoid human interaction. Her past experiences had given her a sense of security, which was put to the test in her recent bear encounter.
Altha drew solace from these past experiences, assuming they would grant her a certain level of safety during this new confrontation. She clung to the hope that her history with a seemingly identical bear would afford her some protection. However, the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters can make even the most experienced individuals vulnerable.