Human Prey - Bear Attacks and Tips for Survival

Bear attacks do not happen very often, but when they do they can be extremely deadly. The question has always been, why do bears attack. Most bears will attack in order to protect their territory or their cubs, while some bears are opportunist hunters. In an episode of Human Prey, three bear attacks were reencountered.

Montana - Glacier National Park - August 25, 2005
After Jenna Otter graduated from High School, her father took her on a hiking trip through the Glacier National Park. What should have been a father-daughter bonding trip turned into a nightmare, when Jenna rounded a corner and came face to face with a female grizzly bear.

The grizzly had two cubs and sensing Jenna and her father, Johan Otter, as a threat she moved to strike. Johan Otter, fearing for his daughters life, stepped between the grizzly bear and Jenna.

The mother grizzly bears teeth sank into the right thigh of Johan while her claws raked at his face. Johan's eye socket was shattered, and the only thing he could think about was keeping the bear from his daughter.

Otter knew he could not survive the bear, and jumped 30 feet off the cliff. The grizzly bear than turned toward Jenna, and in a fearful desperation jumped blindly off the cliff. However, the grizzly bear was far from done and followed after Johan Otter down.

The grizzly bear would jump onto Otter's back, breaking five of his vertebrae and shattering three ribs. Otter would once again try to get away from the bear. Unbeknown to Otter, he landed on the same ledge where his daughter had landed.

The grizzly bear than attacks again, but this time she goes for Johan's head. Knowing he can not survive, Johan gets away and makes on last fall off the cliff.

His daughter Jenna was not as lucky, as the grizzly bear caught her scent. The grizzly bear gets a hold of Jenna's head, tearing her mouth. In a last-minute attempt to save her life, Jenna played dead. The grizzly finally wondered off, however, both Jenna and Johan Otter would require surgery to repair the damage done.

British Columbia - August 14, 1997
Pattie McConnell and her son, Kelly, were moving from Texas to Alaska when they decided to spot by the hot springs in British Columbia. As they walked around, Pattie came face-to-face with a black bear.

The black bear had been hunting food and seeing Patty he moved to attack. Kelly, who was 13-years-old at the time, witness the bear mauling his mother and made a move to protect her.

The black bear then turned its attention onto Kelly. At the time, all appeared to be lost, but one man heard his screams and came to help.

Raymond Kitchen attempted to draw the black bear away from Kelly, but the black bear turned on Kitchen. Tony Dauk would be next on the scene, but was unable to get the bear away from Kitchen.

Ingrid Baily, along with a couple of others, were next to arrive. Seeing that Kitchen was dead, they focused their attention on Pattie and her son. However, the black bear would soon finish feeding on Kitchen and move to find more food.

In the commotion, the black bear would then a maul a college student before being shot to death. Kelly and the college student both survived the black bear attack.

Alaska - September 4, 2001
Durring a two week goose hunting trip, Pastor John McCoy would leave scarred for life. His best friend, and hunting partner, Deacon Gary Corle, would be attacked first when a grizzly bear dropped Corle. Corle was able to pull his rifle out and shoot blindly, a move that would save his life.

However, it would cause the bear to turn toward McCoy. McCoy, seeing the grizzly bear coming, manage to get his rifle into the grizzly's mouth. Yet, when he pulled the trigger no would come.

The grizzly would then proceed to break McCoy's arms before going for his head. McCoy's ear was bitten off, and his eye was hanging from its socket. McCoy believed this was the end, and laid there to away his journey to the lord.

It was the move that saved McCoy's left, as the grizzly moved off from McCoy and left the area.

Surviving a Bear Attack
Bear attack are uncommon, but, in the rare cases, a bear does attack there are things you can do to save your life.

1) If you are walking around in the woods, do not be quiet. Bears will attack when surprised. If a bear hears you coming, most bears will move away from you.

2) Make sure you can see, at least, 50 feet in front of you.

3) If you encounter a bear, try talking to it while holding your arms above your head. Do not run, or the bear will chase you, walk slowly backwards.

4) In the event, a bear does approach you, climb a tree or drop down in the fetal position. You want the bear to see you as a non-threat. Stay on your stomach, do not expose your vital organs, and keep your hands over your head and neck. Should a bear continue to bite you, you should not expose the front of you to it and do not react. With luck, the bear will no longer see you as a threat and walk away from you.

5) Firearms do not always work, but it is recommended you carry one if you are going into bear territory. Keep in mind, bears do not go down in one shot and when injured will become more aggressive.

6) Most areas will only allow you to carry bear spray. Keep in mind, it is useless if you do not read the directions.

Never travel by yourself. Your chances of being attacked by a bear are lower when you travel in a group. However, if you do get attacked, chances are there is someone that can get you to medical attention.

Remember, bears are wild animals. They are cute, and most little girls love their teddy bears, but when a bear attacks they usually do not stop until their prey is dead.

Sources: Animal Planets Human Prey
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/15-tips-for-surviving-a-bear-encounter.htm