The cinnamon black bear that attacked Mike Becwar near Pump Station #5.
Posted on 02/15/2023 3:11:38 AM PST by marktwain
In 2020, Mike Becwar was, without provocation, attacked by a cinnamon black bear in Alaska. He fought back with a folding knife and survived. This is his story.
On May 29, 2020, Mike was going stir-crazy. This was during the COVID restrictions. He had been pushed to extend two weeks longer than the usual period in the remote camp at Pump Station Number 5.
He had to get out of the camp to relieve stress. He chose to take a run along the road to the camp airport, around the runway, and back into camp, about a 3 1/2 mile run. Going to the airport and back was a fairly common activity for camp workers in the remote location. He expected to be gone no more than 40 minutes. He told camp security staff where he was going and how long he expected to be gone. Mike was 53 years old.
At the end of May, that far north, there are more than 20 hours of daylight. It is always at least twilight because the sun does not dip far below the horizon. There are no climbable trees in the area. The temperature was 58 degrees.
Mike has been in Alaska for 28 years. He is an experienced and capable outdoorsman and hunter. He has hunted and dealt with many bears over the decades. Mike has a policy of never going outdoors in Alaska without the means to start a fire, a knife, and a firearm. It became an impossible policy at the camp. The company authorities forbade the possession of firearms by individuals.
Mike was dressed for running in T-shirt, running shoes, running pants, and a hat.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
The cinnamon black bear that attacked Mike Becwar near Pump Station #5.
PINGing the Original Bear vs Knife Fighter.
Yes, a K-bar would have been much better. Mike says if he had had a pistol, he could have killed the bear a dozen times over.
Time to disobey the company.
This is the kind of thing that can make a man become emotionally attached to a good pocket knife.
Good thing the bear didn’t bring a gun. I guess he didn’t play attention to fouty foe.
You’re a great writer, thank you for posting this.
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That bear would have had to pry my Gerber knife from my cold dead fingers!
“The bear broke both of Mike’s shoulders and tore up Mike’s arms and face.”
Ouchie.
Ha, not likely I would ever have a job like that, but if I did - I would disobey company rules. According to the article, this doughty fellow had come close to bears a number of times and hunted them. Yeah, I would have been like “screw you guys,” gone into town and bought a piece after the first time or two.
“Mike has recovered much in two and a half years. The damage was extensive. He has lost considerable capability.”
Poor guy. I wish him all the best.
This story has the stench of female executives on the board or in the HR department. No guns in primitive Alaska. Good decision there. Too bad he can’t sue the ones who put him at risk.
He should sue the company for not allowing him to arm himself properly in bear country. I would.
Gibbs Rule #9: “Never go anywhere without a knife.”
Is my rule number three.
Thank you for the excellent write up on this incident. I had only heard the highlights!
Yeah, that seems a little weird. I was wondering why that rule, if they’re out in the middle of nowhere. Are the guys working there a bunch of out-of-control drunks or something? Do employees commit suicide on a regular basis and they don’t like cleaning up a mess? According to the article, there are bears everywhere you look there.
Maybe when the medical team came to pick him up, they started off by saying, “Hey, say you’re not going to sue RIGHT NOW or we’re gonna leave you here, Mike!”
Bear spray?
Beautfully colored fur. I hope he makes a rug out of it.
Buck knives kick ass.
I guarantee that policy was created by some @$$hole Karen back at HQ in the "big city."
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