Following a harrowing bear attack, a man who initially survived with severe injuries has tragically passed away.
Joe Pendry, aged 63, was hunting elk near Fort Steele, northeast of Cranbrook, in Canada, on October 2 when he encountered a bear and her two cubs. Despite putting up a fierce fight during the assault, Joe’s wife Janice confirmed his death on Saturday due to complications from a blood clot.
In the immediate aftermath, Janice recounted how Joe attempted to fend off the charging bear by shooting at its leg. However, the bear persisted and eventually clamped its jaws around Joe’s head. Desperately trying to survive, Joe resorted to punching and biting the bear’s ear.
The brutal attack left Joe with severe injuries, including the loss of his lips and part of his scalp, a missing finger, broken nose, cheekbones, arms, and ribs. Despite the ordeal, Joe managed to call for help and was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital for extensive surgeries on his face and other injuries.
Authorities later discovered a deceased grizzly bear near the attack site, confirming it as the aggressor responsible for the incident.
In a statement on October 17, Pendry revealed that the bear had succumbed to sepsis. The Conservation Officer Service verified the bear’s identity through DNA analysis and thanked all involved in the response. Meanwhile, Pendry continues his recovery in the hospital.
WildSafeBC, a non-profit organization, highlighted that while grizzly bear encounters are infrequent, they can have fatal consequences, receiving hundreds of reports annually.
Another incident in October involved two hikers attacked by a grizzly bear in the McGregor mount area northeast of Prince George, resulting in serious injuries. The bear was spotted with two cubs during the attack.
Visitors in bear-populated areas are advised to remain calm, speak softly, back away slowly, and stand their ground if charged, using bear spray as a last resort.
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