Joe Pendry, a 63-year-old man, utilized his boxing skills to defend himself against a mother grizzly bear during an elk hunting trip near Fort Steele in B.C.’s East Kootenay region. The encounter occurred on October 2, where Pendry encountered the bear and her two cubs.
Despite shooting the bear in the leg, it continued to charge at Pendry. In a fight for his life, he resorted to punching and even biting the bear’s ear. The intense struggle resulted in severe injuries, including the tearing off of his lips and part of his scalp, the loss of a finger, and multiple broken bones. Pendry’s wife, Janice Pendry, recounted how her husband relentlessly punched the bear in the nose but the animal persisted in its attack, even putting Pendry’s head in its mouth at one point.
After managing to fend off the bear by calling for help and undergoing multiple surgeries at Kelowna General Hospital, Pendry survived the ordeal. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirmed that the bear responsible for the attack had succumbed to sepsis, and DNA analysis positively identified it as the aggressor.
Pendry’s background as a boxer and outdoor hunting guide played a crucial role in his survival, according to his wife. However, the incident has left Pendry with physical and emotional scars, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. His recovery will be prolonged, and he may not be able to return to his job as a foreman with a highway maintenance company.
The traumatic experience has also affected Pendry’s wife, who is coping with the aftermath with the support of her family. Despite the challenges, they remain resilient. The sow bear involved in the attack had two cubs, and while their ages were unknown, it is possible they were old enough to survive on their own according to the B.C. environment ministry.
Grizzly bear encounters are infrequent but can be dangerous, with the COS receiving hundreds of calls annually regarding such incidents. WildSafeBC provides valuable tips on avoiding bear encounters to prevent similar incidents in the future.