Man Fights Off Bear - Lives To Tell About It

**OZZ** · Posted On: 10/10/2008 11:46am

Here's further proof that lying down and 'playing dead' is a bad choice.
Of course, not every person will be as fortunate as this guy, but at least you have a chance if you fight back.
The report doesn't state what kind of bear it was..I am guessing it was NOT a Grizzly, probably a Black Bear. Black Bears are considerably smaller and less fearsome than Grizzly bears.
Apparently, the conservation officers euthanized the cubs that were nearby, unfortunately.
Anyhow, this guy is one lucky fellow..

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News Home > Canada News > B.C. man comes out...

B.C. man comes out swinging in bear attack
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Wed Oct 8, 1:32 PM

VANCOUVER (CBC) - A Cariboo, B.C., man who was attacked by a bear says he used a stick to put up the fight of his life after he realized he was likely in a fight to the death.

Jim West, 45, was out walking last Saturday morning with his two dogs near 70 Mile House, about halfway between Kamloops and Williams Lake, when he came face to face with an angry mother bear.

"I turned [when] I heard a grunt. All I saw was eyes full of hatred.... I had no option [but] to hit the ground. So I stuck my foot up and tried to kick her in the face," he said.

The bear then attacked him and West soon found himself on the losing side of an ill-matched fight.

"I rolled onto my stomach and clasped my hands at the back of my neck. She tore into my skull at the back of my head, moved over and bit me on the left side of my body, on my ribs and left arm," said West.

Knowing he would likely soon be dead unless he fought back, the injured West picked up a stick and started swinging.

"I swung the stick and broke it over her head. She kind of stood there and shook it off, like she was stunned," he said.

"I realized if I didn't continue the attack she would knock me to the ground again and I would not get up.

"I swung my piece of wood like a sledgehammer driving spikes and I kept swinging till she was lying flat on the ground and there was blood coming out of her nose, said West.

The five-foot nine-inch tall man eventually crushed the bear's skull with the stick.

West then managed to get himself to a hospital where the gashes in his body took 60 stitches to sew up.

The incident surprised even the conservation officers, who say West is lucky to be alive.

**E-Van** · Posted On: 10/10/2008 11:48am

Dog Brothers ftw!

**OZZ** · Posted On: 10/10/2008 11:49am

I just realized Neildo beat me to it..since he lives out there its no surprise!!

**Neildo** · Posted On: 10/11/2008 3:21am

dude, aaahmed from edmonton beat me to it! his thread has more hits too.

Possible badass of the month? - No BS Martial Arts

thread merge plz thx mods!

**Skepticus** · Posted On: 10/11/2008 3:45am

Meh, nothing special really. Out here in BC we regularly fend off bears and other wild animals, often without the luxury of sophisticated newfangled weapons like sticks...

**OZZ** · Posted On: 10/11/2008 10:20am

Originally Posted by Skepticus

Meh, nothing special really. Out here in BC we regularly fend off bears and other wild animals, often without the luxury of sophisticated newfangled weapons like sticks...

Yeah..a friend of mine on the island chased a cougar off his property with an axe..

**Skepticus** · Posted On: 10/12/2008 2:02am

Originally Posted by OZZ

Yeah..a friend of mine on the island chased a cougar off his property with an axe..

I think I remember hearing a while back that a cougar was actually hunting little kids as they came out of elementary school over on the island....didn't one kid actually get eaten or something?

**Petter** · Posted On: 10/12/2008 2:23am

Originally Posted by OZZ

Here's further proof that lying down and 'playing dead' is a bad choice.
Of course, not every person will be as fortunate as this guy, but at least you have a chance if you fight back.
The report doesn't state what kind of bear it was..I am guessing it was NOT a Grizzly, probably a Black Bear. Black Bears are considerably smaller and less fearsome than Grizzly bears.

However, I'm told that black bears are much more fond of eating carrion than are grizzly bears, who prefer live prey for the animal protein part of their diet. If this is true, then playing dead may be a viable plan when faced with a grizzly (you're not likely to fight it off with a stick, anyway!), but it's not a smart move with a carrion eater...

**Skepticus** · Posted On: 10/12/2008 4:08am

Originally Posted by Petter

However, I'm told that black bears are much more fond of eating carrion than are grizzly bears, who prefer live prey for the animal protein part of their diet. If this is true, then playing dead may be a viable plan when faced with a grizzly (you're not likely to fight it off with a stick, anyway!), but it's not a smart move with a carrion eater...

Yeah, I've heard this as well. Don't play dead against a black bear, or else it'll just start eating you. You won't be "playing" dead for long.