Shayne Patrick Burke was on a brief hike this month to {photograph} owls within the backcountry of Grand Teton Nationwide Park in Wyoming when he noticed a grizzly bear cub about 50 to 70 yards in entrance of him.
Immediately, Mr. Burke knew that the cub’s presence signaled bother, he wrote on Instagram.
Moments later, Mr. Burke, 35, was attacked by the cub’s mom.
He turned his again, bought on his abdomen and locked his fingers behind his neck, following recommendation he had examine grizzly bear assaults, he stated.
In the course of the assault, on Might 19, the bear repeatedly bit Mr. Burke and picked him up and slammed him to the bottom, earlier than, he wrote, one among his screams “sadly, however luckily, turned her consideration to my head.”
It was a terrifying second, nevertheless it finally saved his life.
The bear bit at Mr. Burke’s neck, however his fingers and arms have been nonetheless interlocked behind it and, crucially, he had grabbed a can of bear spray when he noticed the cub.
“I by no means let go of the bear spray can,” he wrote. “As she bit my fingers behind my neck she concurrently bit the bear spray can and it exploded in her mouth.”
The explosion scared the bear away.
Mr. Burke, a disabled veteran within the Military Reserve, stated that the assault was “probably the most violent” factor he had skilled, including, “I’ve skilled being shot at, mortared and I.E.D. explosions.”
Grand Teton Nationwide Park stated that Mr. Burke, who was visiting from Massachusetts, was discharged from a hospital on Monday and was anticipated to make a full restoration.
The park stated that the assault seemed to be a defensive motion by the bear, which was responding to a “shock encounter.” The bear has not been recognized and Grand Teton stated that no additional “administration motion,” which may embrace euthanizing the bear, was required.
On Instagram, Mr. Burke wrote that he had requested the park rangers to not kill the bear as a result of he understood that she was defending her cub.
He stated that the assault was a “unsuitable place, unsuitable time” scenario. He had deliberate to take an hourlong stroll within the hopes of recognizing an important grey owl to {photograph}.
He stated the assault occurred about 90 minutes after he left the car parking zone. He was attempting to get again as rapidly as attainable as a result of he knew his spouse had anticipated him there earlier.
He stated he had an “uncomfortable feeling” as he was winding by a thick, wooded valley. He adopted security steerage for the scenario and made noise.
“I used to be breaking branches, singing and speaking to myself aloud,” he stated.
He had unholstered his bear spray after seeing the cub however the mom was already charging at him. Mr. Burke stated that he heard the bear run away after it bit the can of spray.
After Mr. Burke distanced himself from the bear, he referred to as his spouse. She helped him determine tips on how to use the provides he had, together with straps from his backpack and digicam bag, to make tourniquets round his legs.
He may inform that he had averted a ruptured artery, probably the most harmful and pressing sort of bleeding.
“I laid alone within the woods gripping my knife with my again to a tree simply hoping the bear wasn’t to return,” Mr. Burke wrote.
He additionally referred to as 911, which was capable of triangulate his location for a helicopter rescue.
Mr. Burke stated that he thought he was going to die and had recorded a video telling these near him that he cherished them.
The primary park rangers to succeed in Mr. Burke offered emergency medical care earlier than he was airlifted to an ambulance. Mr. Burke stated that he had surgical procedure to wash and staple his wounds.
He described himself as being poorly ready for a medical emergency as a result of he had meant to take a brief stroll by roadside woods. Normally, he stated, he carries a primary assist equipment.
Mr. Burke stated that the highest issues that stored him alive have been that he had beforehand examine what to do in case of a bear assault and that he was carrying bear spray that he knew tips on how to use.
Individuals are suggested to play useless and lock their fingers behind their neck, simply as Mr. Burke did, within the occasion of a grizzly bear assault. If a black bear assaults, don’t play useless.