Joe Pendry, a 63-year-old hunter, utilized his boxing skills to defend himself against a mother grizzly bear attack in B.C.’s East Kootenay region. The incident occurred while he was hunting elk near Fort Steele, northeast of Cranbrook, on October 2. Despite shooting the bear in the leg, it continued its assault, leading Pendry to resort to punching and biting the bear’s ear to survive. The encounter resulted in severe injuries, including torn lips and scalp, a lost finger, broken bones, and multiple facial injuries.
After managing to momentarily fend off the bear, Pendry contacted emergency services and his son for assistance. He was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital, where he underwent several surgeries to address his injuries. His wife, Janice Pendry, described the harrowing ordeal, mentioning that at one point, the bear had his husband’s head in its mouth, causing significant damage.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service later confirmed that the bear responsible for the attack was found dead in the same area, with DNA analysis confirming its involvement. Pendry highlighted her husband’s boxing and outdoor hunting experience as crucial in his survival, noting that his skills were instrumental in overcoming the bear. However, she also mentioned that he is facing a lengthy recovery and dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The incident has had a profound impact on both Pendry and her husband, with the latter experiencing recurring nightmares about the attack. She expressed the challenges they are facing and the uncertainty surrounding his ability to return to work. The Ministry of Environment in B.C. revealed that the sow bear had two cubs at the time of the attack, and while their ages are unknown, cubs typically stay with their mother until their fourth summer. WildSafeBC highlighted that grizzly bear encounters are rare but potentially fatal, offering guidelines on avoiding such situations.