A man from British Columbia has passed away several weeks after being severely injured in an encounter with a mother grizzly bear in the East Kootenay region of B.C. earlier this month. Joe Pendry, aged 63, was elk hunting near Fort Steele, located northeast of Cranbrook, on October 2 when he came across the bear and her two cubs. His wife, Janice Pendry, confirmed on Saturday that he died due to a blood clot.
Despite the intense attack, Joe Pendry managed to survive initially, thanks to his background as a boxer and an experienced outdoor hunting guide. Janice Pendry recounted how her husband bravely faced the bear, shooting it in the leg, punching, and even biting its ear in a desperate struggle for survival. The encounter left Joe with severe injuries including torn lips and scalp, a lost finger, broken nose, cheekbones, arms, and ribs. He was able to fend off the bear, call for help, and was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital for multiple surgeries on his face and other injuries.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service later confirmed that the dead grizzly bear found in the Fort Steele area days after the attack was responsible for the incident. The bear was identified through DNA analysis, with Pendry mentioning that it died from sepsis. The B.C. Environment Ministry revealed that the sow bear had two cubs with her, and while their exact ages were unknown, cubs typically stay with their mother until their fourth summer, indicating they might be able to survive on their own.
WildSafeBC reported that the Conservation Officer Service receives around 400 to 500 calls annually regarding grizzly bear encounters. The organization noted that while grizzly bear attacks are rare, they can sometimes be fatal, providing guidance on avoiding such encounters on their website.