A man who was attacked by a bear and survived initially has passed away due to complications from the incident. Joe Pendry, aged 63, was hunting elk near Fort Steele, located northeast of Cranbrook in British Columbia, Canada, when he encountered a bear and her two cubs on October 2. Despite putting up a fight during the brutal attack, Joe’s wife, Janice, revealed that he succumbed to a blood clot on Saturday.
Following the encounter, Janice recounted that Joe attempted to defend himself by shooting at the bear’s leg as it charged towards him. However, the bear continued its assault, eventually clamping its jaws around Joe’s head. In a desperate struggle for survival, Joe resorted to punching and biting the bear’s ear. The attack left Joe with severe injuries including torn lips and scalp, a lost finger, broken nose, cheekbones, arms, and ribs.
After managing to ward off the bear, Joe reached out for help by calling 911 and his son. He was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries to address his injuries. The Conservation Officer Service confirmed the discovery of a deceased grizzly bear in the vicinity of the attack, attributing the bear as the aggressor.
Reports indicated that the bear had succumbed to sepsis. The Conservation Officer Service verified through DNA analysis that the deceased bear was the one involved in the attack. Meanwhile, Joe remains hospitalized, continuing his recovery process.
WildSafeBC, a non-profit organization, highlighted the rarity of grizzly bear attacks, noting that they receive hundreds of reports annually. The British Columbia Officer Service reported a separate incident in October where two hikers were attacked by a grizzly bear in the McGregor mount area near Prince George, resulting in serious injuries.
To ensure safety when encountering bears, individuals are advised to remain calm, avoid running, speak calmly while backing away slowly, and stand their ground if the bear charges while utilizing bear spray if necessary.