Alaskan brown bears are known to be fierce and protective parents. Encountering a bear and its cub could be dangerous, and hikers should be particularly cautious.

Which phrase is a gerund phrase?

Alaskan brown bears

and protective parents

encountering a bear

particularly cautious

Encouraging a bear a gerund always ends with - ing

encountering a bear

Explanation:

A phrase that started with a gerund is considered as a gerund phrase. The gerund phrase serves as a noun. A gerund is a verb ended with "ing". In a sentence, gerund phrase always function as nouns and they are used as subjects, subject complements or subjects.

For example, in the sentence

"Encountering a bear and its cub could be dangerous, and hikers should be particularly cautious."

"Encountering a bear" is a gerund phrase which function as the subject of the sentence;