A 71-year-old woman was attacked by a bear that entered her home in Groton, N.H., early in the morning on July 17, 2018. Wes Perkins, 65, survived a bear attack in 2011 and now helps families of survivors to better navigate their journey to recovery. "So telling myself to function and never close my eyes or go unconscious was the main concentration.". And family comes first.". Few things are more terrifying than the prospect of being attacked by a bear in the Alaskan wilderness. Bear Country. Speech, Jim Jordan's Crime Hearing Takes Surprising Turns, China's 'Artificial Sun' Smashes Nuclear Fusion Record, Putin Issues Ominous Warning About How Russian Navy Could be Deployed, Who Is Ralph Yarl? The survivor of a grizzly bear attack has told Newsweek how the wild beast ripped off his face. The attack happened in 2011 but 65-year-old Wes Perkins still bears the scars of a terrifying encounter with a grizzly beast in the Alaskan mountains. A video of a bear coming face-to-face with a man has gone viral. That wasnt the end of her ordeal though as she then had to hike two miles to get to her work vehicle and then drive to get help. Pick up any small children or pets immediately. If the bear attacks you, fight back with anything that you have. The victim seen in the video was so traumatized by the incident that he stopped working at the store. After the attack, the nine-year-old boy who was the first to see Evans as he searched for help was tasked with writing about his hero at school. A Washington state woman survived a grisly attack by punching a black bear that charged at her square in the nose. Do not fight back! She slammed down on top of me and bit my shoulder and arms again, Orr wrote in a Facebook post. Every encounter is different. Two collegiate wrestlers were mauled by a grizzly bear near Cody, Wyoming, in October; they. He was arrested after the New York Police Department released a surveillance video showing the moment the masked suspect unleashed the spray. Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. (DAVID OPPENHEIMER via CNN), The man says hes noticed the same bear grabbing a quick bite from his bear-proof bird feeder. Slowly, the surgeons began to reconstruct his face, inserting titanium plates in both his cheeks and a titanium rib around the jawbone. His lawyer, Eric Wolfe, did not respond to a request for comment. "A couple of years after I was mauled, I received a letter in the mail from a cousin of a man in his mid-30s who was hunting elk with his father when he was mauled," Perkins told Newsweek. Unlike tear gas, pepper spray and bear mace are oil-based irritants, making them more difficult and more painful to wash off ones body. Then she made the mistake of removing her face mask, causing the chemicals to drip into her eyes. It was sickeningly painful.. They can be fatal and often hikers, hunters, fishers, and others in bear country take precautions against bear attacks.. Stephen Herrero, a Canadian biologist, reports that during the 1990s . He pretty much single-handedly organized a rescue to lift his brother from the wilderness of the Kigluaik Mountains, about 30 miles east of this small community. Doorbell video shows both man and bear were startled by the sudden, face-to-face encounter. While collecting samples near a stream in Montana, a bear mauled Kornak from behind. It's hard to imagine the recovery, and the person has no idea what to expect or how long the process will be. Baumgartner provided several tips for how to protect yourself against banking Trojans: Always download software and games from their official sites. The attack has now become the subject of a short documentary by filmmaker Donnie Rosie, who was in Alaska for another project when he found out about Perkins' story. And probably worst of all, for a man who always loved to talk, he is now hard to understand because he speaks with only half a tongue.. Summas lawyer, John Murphy, declined to comment. Stock image of a grizzly bear (right) and a still of Wes Perkins giving an interview in late 2022, over 10 years after he was mauled by a grizzly in the Alaskan wilderness. Nine steps from 69 feet, according to Fish and Game. "I probably saved Wes's life and my son saved my life in the same ordeal," Dan Stang said. Regularly . When the 300-pound bear finally retreated, Evans' inspiring journey to help began. Perkins, from Nome, Alaska, his friend Dan Stang, and Dan Stang's son, Edward Stang, were out in the mountains on a hunting trip. And unlike pepper spray canisters, which shoot out a narrow stream, the larger bear mace bottles unleash a powerful and expanding cloud of chemical irritants designed to extend more than 30 feet and linger in the air. Lewis said shes learned her lesson. "Her first bite on my face, I was laying on my side. Despite his miraculous recovery, Evans is still open about the struggles that came after the attack too. Unlike using something like a gun, they can walk away and go on with their business., David Nance, the chief executive officer of the SABRE personal security company, a major manufacturer of bear spray, said: "Bear spray should only be used to defend against a bear attack. Over ten years later, Perkins' face is healed, though scarred, and he lives a full and happy life. "I looked behind me and didn't see anything," David Oppenheimer told CNN, "But about a minute later, the bear came along and was practically in front of me.". "I basically kept my airway open and had to dig the debris out of my airway, when I lost my tongue, jaw and all but a few teeth," Perkins told Newsweek. If you surprise a black bear and it charges or attacks, fight back with everything you have! WATCH: Man, bear startled by face-to-face encounter, A man was relaxing on a lounge chair outside his home when suddenly, a bear was staring him right in the face. Brooke had gone out elk hunting with friends and having shot one they decided to return the next day to get the body. The incident occurred on Saturday in Cody, Wyoming, when the two men encountered the bear at close range while they were in heavy cover antler hunting west of the Bobcat Houlihan trailhead on the Shoshone National Forest, the Wyoming Game & Fish Department said in a press release detailing the incident. If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! He hasn't let his ordeal deter him from exploring the wilderness, and still hunts bears and moose like he did before. A picture of Jeremy Evans and his six-month-old daughter in the hospital following the grizzly bear attack, left, and a picture of the book cover for Mauled: Lessons Learned From A Grizzly Bear Attack by Crosbie Cotton and Jeremy Evans, right. Bears may yawn or clack their teeth, and pound their front paws on the ground while huffingthese are warning signs. Oh and my eyes don't fully close, and I have no tear ducts.". Predatory bears are very different than surprised or defensive bears. One bite on my forearm went through to the bone and I heard a crunch. Evans started to fight back, poking the bear's eyes and even shoving his fingers down her throat to try and deter the attack. Bear attacks are of particular concern for those who are in bear habitats. Let the bear know that youre a human, and that you arent a threat. Let us know via science@newsweek.com. You know, its not worth it, she said. The doorbell footage shows a man named David Oppenheimer using his phone while relaxing in a chair as. Use any available weapon to fight the bear (sticks, rocks, bear spray, even your fists). Oppenheimer grabbed a pillow, admitting his body froze. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. With part of his skull plate exposed, he had to undergo multiple surgeries including skin grafts and facial reconstructions. The bear came into her kitchen through a screen door that wasn't fully latched. Bear spray was developed in the 1980s after a spate of fatal bear attacks against people. The 45-year-old - identified only as a Somanna - is understood to have come face-to-face with the bear and, fearing for his life, attacked it with a machete. Do you have an animal or nature story to share with Newsweek? If you notice a bear stalking you, now is the time to get your bear spray ready. And that is the amazing part of this story. I'd rather laugh than cry, and I do, she said. bear attack 80 GIFs. Wes Perkins was the luckiest man to walk the earth, this guy survived the most gruesome bear attack ever.The bear attack was so horrific, hard to look at or to think about.The following is a story from Anchorage Daily News about survival, incredible willpower, and how the unbelievable can become the truth. The bear had ripped off most of his jaw and tongue, and caused huge damage to one of his eyes. I was lucky that I was able to learn how to talk again., Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. "With the assistance of a hunter in the area, a local resident and other members of their party, the two men were able to reach the trailhead where they met search and rescue and were transported from the area," said the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. It was a big bite.". Perkins spent the next four months in hospital, undergoing numerous operations to repair the damage done by the bear. Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. The chemical seeped into her eyes and inside her ear canal, causing excruciating pain that sent her to the emergency room. New York prosecutors say Robert Summa, of Staten Island, sprayed bear mace in the face of workers during three separate bodega robberies from Dec. 8 to Dec. 31. "I turned and saw the bear, full charge," Perkins told Anchorage Daily News around a year after the attack. If a grizzly/brown bear charges and attacks you, PLAY DEAD. She suffered two fractures and severe lacerations on her head, neck, and back, according to a GoFundMe page. Melissa Lewis, an independent journalist, was doused with bear spray at a Portland rally on Aug. 22. The officers had protective gear on and they were able to work through it, but I know there were reports of tingling and odd sensations for hours after the event, said Salem Police Lt. Trevon Upkes. If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! His will to survive and keep going, stay positive.". CNN reviewed 53 leaked documents from . "I could hear when his teeth would hit my skull," said one of the survivors. Its a way of having some kind of offensive capability that wont get you into trouble just for possessing it, Upkes said. I tried to follow him but he was too fast and too quiet," the fourth user shared. "When I was in hospital that first day I asked for psychiatric help. Do not fight back! This incident took place in 2016 on April 15th. Melissa Lewis, an independent journalist from Oregon, was documenting a far-right rally in Portland last August when she says a man rushed up and sprayed her with bear mace. Alamy Stock Photo An Alaska man miraculously survived a brown bear mauling that included. Im [now] able to swallow a full-size vitamin that I couldnt swallow five months ago, Id choke on it, he added. All rights reserved. You can deter them without killing them. Fortunately, Kornak was able to fend off her attacker with a can of bear spray. But moments later, a bear was staring him right in the face. A team effort and incredible will power of a human to survive is what helped create this rescue and survival of epic proportions. Despite the horror of the experience, Rogers said shell keep laughing and living her life. She managed to fight it off thanks to the help of her two large dogs and by sticking her thumbnail in its eye. As advised by Mr Stang, Mr Perkins buried his face in the snow to numb the pain. If hes alive now, hes going to make it. Although in shock and injured, Orr carried on his trek but within minutes the bear was back and launched another attack. Expressing how he can joke about it while stressing the importance of psychiatric help after a traumatic event, the story exhibits determination and resilience in abundance. Doctors had to use part of his fibula to create a jaw to replace what the bear ripped off of his face. If a predatory bear attacks you, no matter the species, fight back with everything you have. Plur Nilssen had suffered deep tissue lacerations to his shoulder, back, neck, chest, and head. Apryl Rogers of Groton, New Hampshire, who is wheelchair-bound, came across the bear after it entered through an open screen door, authorities said shortly after the incident on July 17. There are several subspecies and variants, the most famous being the Kodiak bear. I called it quits at that point," he admitted. Don't needlessly abandon your passions in life. Graham said the second dog involved in the attack is owned by a relative. Never run from a surprised bear because it can cause a predatory reaction from the bear. The book Mauled: Lessons Learned from a Grizzly Bear Attack details Evans' incredible journey from the life-changing hunting trip to his life today. While bear attacks on humans are relatively rare they can be particularly vicious, with the powerful animals able to smash skulls, pulp faces and skin their victims alive. The trio was tracking a nice size bear and drove around the hill hoping to find it, but before they could hunt it, the animal emerged from a hole it had dug and surprised Mr Perkins. Speaking of the ordeal, he added: "It sucked. A still from an interview with Perkins, stood in front of a grizzly bear hide. He still has a tube in his throat. I owe him everything," Brady Lowry told the Cowboy Daily Press regarding Cummings' quick actions that potentially saved his life. Next: Two Wyoming college wrestlers have been seriously injured when they were ambushed in a gruesome attack by a grizzly bear while hunting over the weekend. Todd Orr managed to survive not one but two savage maulings while he was out hiking in Montana in October 2016. The day I left the hospital they told me I was addicted or dependent on opiates. Summa told investigators he got the mace from Montana, court documents say. The alligator attack happened around 1:50 p.m. Friday at Great Outdoors RV Nature & Golf Resort in Titusville, Florida, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue. Eventually, the bear succumbed, and eventually died. I had no time to do anything. He sat right next to me, she said of the moments before the attack. Two of the suspects were charged last week with using bear spray against Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who later died. If the bear gets within 60 feet (18 m), remove the safety clip on your bear spray, aim the nozzle slightly below the bear's face (bear spray billows upwards), and spray the bear. "Black bears rarely attack. Doorbell video shows both man and bear were startled by the sudden, face-to-face encounter. In the brutal attack she lost her nose, ears and 14 teeth. They shot the 8-foot-tall, 13-year-old grizzly bear off of Perkins, which was the first action made that lead to survival of Wes. Big bear.. "I pulled out my phone to try and play music and when I finally got the music to play it was Baby Shark. Lowry has a broken arm, reports said. First I honestly didn't and still don't KNOW how this bear would have reacted. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? If you can see a bluff charge is about to happen, slowly back away while waving your arms above your head, and speak to the bear in a calm voice. The pair were forced to set up camp on the island of Nordaustlandet on July 22 due to bad weather. He was flown 250 miles to regional capital Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk but died nine days later from a heart attack. But his question would be answered all too quickly when he heard a branch break behind him. Fish and Wildlife Service's national grizzly bear recovery coordinator. It tore the whole front away with one punch. It was essentially a bear hunt gone bad, a routine and pleasant hunt that took a turn for the worse when Perkins came across the wrong bear at the wrong time. Man found alive at bottom of the sea 3 days after boat sank: "Total shock". In an effort to get out, the bear lashed out in a panic, causing lacerations to the woman's head and neck, police said. One of the victims was flown by helicopter to a local hospital while the other was taken by an ambulance, authorities said. They are ready to attack their prey at a moments notice, and YOU are the prey. I could feel his teeth going deep into the flesh, and I knew it was serious. Orr said: She got my head good I dont know whats under my hat my ear, my arm, uh, pieces of stuff hanging out. And then my shoulder. She underwent a four-hour operation to remove bone fragments and clean wounds to her brain and had metal plates and screws inserted into her skull. Evans was attacked at 9.36 A.M., but it wasn't until the evening of the same day that he would begin to receive medical treatment. Dallas Lowry CNN A group of college wrestlers from Wyoming faced their toughest opponent yet over the weekend. Frequently Asked Questions Will a gunshot kill a bear? In a paper published in 2019, 183 brown bear attacks were tallied in North America between the years 2000 and 2015with around 14 percent resulting in human fatalities. When I turned around, the bear was that close. If you surprise a grizzly/brown bear and it charges or attacks, do not fight back! His life the hospital they told me I was laying on my face, inserting titanium in. Department released a surveillance video showing the moment the masked suspect unleashed the spray off attacker! 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