Nature Livestream Camera Leads to Lost Hiker, Rescue

A lost hiker in Alaska’s Katmai National Park was rescued after being spotted on a livestream camera that viewers were observing to catch glimpses of brown bears.

Viewers were tuning into Explore.org’s Dumpling Mountain livestream, which comes from one of many of the organization’s cameras placed within the park. During this time of year, many people tune into Explore.org’s Katmai National Park livestreams to watch brown bears as they prepare for hibernation.

But on Sept. 5, viewers spotted a man who appeared in distress and was speaking, appearing to mouth “help me” and “lost.” He then returned to face the camera and give a thumbs down, NPR reported. However, the camera didn’t capture the sound, so users deciphered what they could.

User Call_Me_Maeby called attention to the hiker, writing in the livestream comments, “There is someone distressed on the camera 3:30pm – 3:43.” 

Shortly after, a moderator for the livestream commented, “Thanks viewers for letting us know. Explore is aware and able to get in touch with Katmai. They are also reviewing the footage.”

Cynthia Hernandez, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, told BBC that the park sent a search and rescue team, which was able to rescue the hiker unharmed.

Later that evening, the moderator shared an update in the chat: “Good News – Two Rangers hiked up, have found the man and are escorting him back down the mountain!”

User Call_Me_Maeby responded, “Aaaand I’m crying because I’m so relieved. I first noticed that hiker about 3.5 hrs ago. Those rangers made it up there fast!”

While millions of people tune into the Katmai National Park livestreams in advance of Fat Bear Week, when users vote on which bear has grown the most in preparation of hibernation, the Dumpling Mountain camera doesn’t get as much attention as other livestreams, such as the Brooks Falls livestream.

Mike Fitz, a naturalist with Explore.org and former ranger at Katmai National Park, told NPR that the Dumpling Mountain camera isn’t as likely to capture wildlife and operates more as a scenery camera.

The Dumpling Mountain livestream camera is also a couple miles from any trail, in a particularly rough landscape and an area that can have low visibility from fog, wind and rain, as was the case on Sept. 5. The Explore.org team is still unsure how the hiker found the camera in the wilderness, but Fitz said, “Our webcam viewers, collectively, are very sharp-eyed and they don’t miss much.”