VIEWER DISCRETION: Juneau man says he’s grateful to be alive after a brown bear mauled him at his camping site.
After receiving puncture wounds from the bear’s fangs, deep gashes to his leg from the bear’s claws, and a broken shoulder blade; the bear that attacked a man, who grew up in Rolling Meadows, suddenly retreated.
Kenny Steck saw the bear charge him, and describes hearing the bear’s breathing as it approached. Steck stumbled and soon found himself with his head in the bear’s mouth. Then the bear ripped through his boot and tore a gash in his leg with a claw. The bear suddenly retreated as Steck prayed to God — saying if this is my time to go, I am ready. He now feels that God has a plan for him.
Fortunately, his wife, who is a nurse was with him. Other people with him on the camping trip are also nurses, and were able to care for him and get him to a hospital.
The attack occurred at Disenchantment Bay near Yakutat, Alaska on May 13, 2016.
A man in Russia is reported to have survived a bear attack in 2014 when his phone rang with a Justin Bieber’s “Baby” ringtone that was loaded by his granddaughter onto his phone. The bear suddenly retreated.
Brown Bears are considered unpredictable regarding human attacks, which are more likely if the bear is surprised or feels threatened. Brown Bears are also more likely to avoid groups of people, but may attack a person if the person is separated from the group. Brown Bears tend to attack the lower jaw. Fatal injuries occur from lacerations that involve the carotid artery or other massive bleeding to the neck, or injuries that crush the victim’s head. A bear claw gash to the inner thigh could also lacerate the femoral artery, which would also likely be fatal. Fighting the bear could prolong the attack and cause more physical damage. Grizzly Bear is a non-scientific name for any form or subspecies of Brown Bear, but experts consider Grizzlies as smaller inland bears weight up to about 800 LBS..
Coastal Alaskan Brown Bears can weigh up to 1,500 LBS with a readily available salmon diet.
The Alaska Science Center ranks the following most likely reasons for bear attacks:
Surprise
Curiosity
Invaded personal space
(this includes a mother bear protecting her young)
Predatory intent
Hunting wounded
Carcass defense
Provoked charge
VIEWER DISCRETION: Kenny Steck somehow survived a vicious attack from the fierce Brown Bear.
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