Incredible story of survival out of British Columbia, Canada where a man biking along a forested trail fended off a grizzly bear by punching it in the face.
The CBC spoke with Parks Canada conservation officer Matthew Corbett who provided details on the harrowing encounter. The biker was riding along a trail next to Anderson Flats Provincial Park when he encountered a female grizzly with two juveniles in a clearing. Female grizzly bears (sows) with cubs are generally considered more dangerous than other grizzly bears as they are extremely protective of their offspring. Sows can exhibit an almost reflexive response to any surprise intrusion or perceived threat to their cubs such as a biker on a trail. The mother grizzly immediately charged the biker and knocked him to the ground. The man managed to put his bike between himself and the attacking bear. The bear continued to make contact with the bike.
In a moment of clarity during the chaos of getting attacked by a grizzly, the biker remembered hearing about a story of man who punched a grizzly in the nose to get it off of him. The biker saw an opening and “swung as hard as he could” connecting the grizzlies face which miraculously stopped the attack the bear ran off. The man was able to get back on his bike and ride out of the park where he caught a ride from a good Samaritan.
The is recovering from minor injuries he got when he crashed his bike but rode away unscathed from the actual grizzly attack.
Parks Canada Safety Guidelines For Cyclists & Trail Runners In Bear Country:
Your speed and quietness put you at risk for sudden bear encounters.
- Slow down through shrubby areas and when approaching blind corners.
- Make noise, travel in groups, be alert and always watch ahead.
- Carry bear spray with you at all times on the trail, and know how to use it.
Handling An ATTACK
Most encounters with bears end without injury. If a bear actually makes contact, you may increase your chances of survival by following these guidelines. In general, there are 2 kinds of attack:
Defensive
This is the most COMMON type of attack.
- Use your bear spray.
- If the bear makes contact with you: PLAY DEAD!
PLAY DEAD! Lie on your stomach with legs apart and position your arms so that your hands are crossed behind your neck. This position makes you less vulnerable to being flipped over and protects your face, the back of your head and neck. Remain still until you are sure the bear has left the area.
These defensive attacks are generally less than two minutes in duration. If the attack continues, it may mean it has shifted from defensive to predatory—FIGHT BACK!
Predatory
The bear is stalking (hunting) you along a trail and then attacks. Or, the bear attacks you at night. This type of attack is very RARE.
- Try to escape into a building, car or up a tree.
- If you cannot escape, do not play dead.
- Use your bear spray and FIGHT BACK.
FIGHT BACK! Intimidate that bear: shout; hit it with a branch or rock, do whatever it takes to let the bear know you are not easy prey. This kind of attack is very rare, but it is serious because it usually means the bear is looking for food and preying on you.
images from YourBCParks