Man vs. Nature: Hunter Fights Off Black Bear (Video)

A Canadian man on a spring hunt experienced a hunter’s worst nightmare, and thankfully, he lived to tell the tale.

Richard Wesley was when hunting in Fire River, Ontario, when he spotted a black bear in the distance. He stayed calm and patiently waited for the bear to pass without disturbing it.

The bear had other ideas, however.

Wesley shared this video on his YouTube channel with the following caption:

I am so happy after this confrontation with a black bear during our spring hunt. No wounds except a bruised elbow and ego where the bear threw me down. Genuinely happy that this was a non fatal or tragic outcome. Proving that the black bear is a wild and unpredictable animal. Again so happy with the outcome.

Bear attacks are rare, but they do happen, and Wesley certainly is lucky he survived this encounter.

A few days before Wesley’s attack, a South African big game hunter was killed in Zimbabwe on Friday when an elephant that had been shot by another hunter fell on him.

The hunter, Theunis Botha, 51, was leading a group hunt when they stumbled upon a herd of breeding elephants, reports National Geographic:

Three elephants charged directly at the hunters, but a fourth elephant caught them by surprise as she charged them from the side.

That elephant picked up Botha with her trunk, and one of the hunters shot her, causing her to collapse on top of Botha. The elephant and Botha were both killed.

Elephants have been known to express emotions such as empathy, and some have even shown signs of grief over dead elephants. They have established societies within their herds and are capable of communicating with each other through subtle signs and gestures.

Elephants rarely kill humans, but approximately 30,000 of the typically gentle creatures are killed each year by poachers for their ivory.

Bears are unpredictable, and while each encounter is unique, there are basic guidelines that may reduce the chance of serious injury or death.

Recognizing the kind of bear you are dealing with is crucial: brown bears and black bears behave differently.

In the article Staying Safe Around Bears, the National Park Service explains,

Brown/Grizzly Bears: If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and PLAY DEAD. Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face.

Black Bears: If you are attacked by a black bear, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or building. If escape is not possible, try to fight back using any object available. Concentrate your kicks and blows on the bear’s face and muzzle.

If any bear attacks you in your tent, or stalks you and then attacks, do NOT play dead—fight back! This kind of attack is very rare, but can be serious because it often means the bear is looking for food and sees you as prey.

For more information on avoiding – and surviving – bear attacks, please read the rest of the NPS article here.

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Lily Dane is a staff writer for The Daily Sheeple. Her goal is to help people to “Wake the Flock Up!”