A man who survived a bear attack by having his head caught in the bear’s jaw has tragically passed away from a blood clot. Joe Pendry, aged 63, was hunting elk near Fort Steele, northeast of Cranbrook, in Canada when he encountered a bear with her two cubs on October 2. Despite initially surviving the brutal ordeal, Joe eventually succumbed to his injuries, his wife Janice confirmed.
Following the attack, Janice recounted how Joe attempted to ward off the charging bear by shooting at its leg, but the bear persisted and clamped its teeth around Joe’s head. In a desperate struggle, Joe fought back by punching and biting the bear’s ear. The injuries sustained by Joe were severe, including the loss of his lips and part of his scalp, a finger, a broken nose, cheekbones, arms, and ribs.
After successfully defending himself against the bear, Joe managed to call 911 and his son for help. He was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries on his face and body. Authorities confirmed that a dead grizzly bear was found near the attack site, attributing it as the responsible bear.
According to Pendry, the bear died from sepsis. The Conservation Officer Service verified the bear’s involvement through DNA analysis, expressing gratitude for the support during the response. Meanwhile, WildSafeBC highlighted the rarity of grizzly bear attacks, emphasizing the need for caution in bear-populated areas.
In a separate incident, the British Columbia Officer Service reported that two hikers were mauled by a grizzly bear in the McGregor mount area near Prince George in October. The hikers sustained serious injuries in the encounter with the bear and her cubs.
Individuals navigating areas inhabited by bears are advised to follow specific guidelines if encountering a bear, which include remaining calm, speaking calmly while backing away slowly, and standing ground if the bear charges, utilizing bear spray if necessary.
