A man from British Columbia has passed away after being seriously injured in a grizzly bear attack in the East Kootenay region earlier this month. Joe Pendry, 63, was elk hunting near Fort Steele, close to Cranbrook, on October 2 when he encountered a grizzly bear and two cubs. His wife, Janice Pendry, confirmed that he died due to a blood clot. Pendry’s survival after the initial attack was attributed to his background as a boxer and outdoor hunting guide.
Janice Pendry recounted how her husband faced the bear, shot it in the leg, but the bear persisted in attacking him, with its jaw around his head at one point. In a desperate struggle for survival, he punched and bit the bear’s ear, resulting in severe injuries including torn lips and scalp, a lost finger, broken nose, cheekbones, arms, and ribs. Despite his injuries, he managed to fend off the bear, call for help, and was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital for multiple surgeries.
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (COS) later identified a dead grizzly bear in the area as the one responsible for the attack, confirming it through DNA analysis. The COS reported that the bear died of sepsis. The sow bear was found to have two cubs with her, and while their ages were unknown, it is possible they were old enough to survive independently.
Statistics from WildSafeBC show that the COS receives hundreds of calls annually regarding grizzly bear encounters. Although grizzly bear attacks are rare, they can sometimes be fatal. The organization offers tips on how to prevent such encounters on their website.
