Joe Pendry utilized his boxing skills to defend himself during a harrowing encounter with a mother grizzly bear in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia earlier this month. The 63-year-old was hunting elk near Fort Steele, northeast of Cranbrook, on October 2 when he came face to face with the bear and her two cubs.
Despite shooting the bear in the leg, it continued its attack. Pendry resorted to punching and biting the bear’s ear in a desperate bid for survival, sustaining severe injuries such as torn lips and scalp, losing a finger, and suffering multiple fractures. His wife, Janice Pendry, recounted how he repeatedly targeted the bear’s nose with his boxing techniques, but the animal’s aggression persisted.
At one point, Pendry found himself with his head inside the bear’s mouth, resulting in further injuries. Despite the ordeal, he managed to repel the bear, calling for help and being airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital, where he underwent extensive surgical procedures on his face and body.
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service later confirmed that the bear responsible for the attack had died from sepsis, recovered its body, and identified it through DNA analysis. Pendry emphasized that her husband’s background as a boxer and outdoor guide played a crucial role in his survival, although he now faces a challenging recovery and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The incident has deeply affected both Pendry and her husband, with the former acknowledging the ongoing struggle and the need for emotional support. The Ministry of Environment disclosed that the sow bear had two cubs, potentially old enough to survive independently. Grizzly bear encounters are rare but can be fatal, with WildSafeBC offering guidelines on bear safety and prevention strategies.