New Mexico man explains how he survived a bear attack

KRQE ^ | Aug 14, 2018 | Francesca Washington

[george76]

RATON, N.M. - A New Mexico man is sharing his story of survival after he was attacked by a bear while walking his dogs.

He killed the bear while its jaw was clamped around his leg, and the jaw stayed that way for a while.

...

When he saw me, he pinned his ears down and immediately made a big charge at me," said Petrini.

That's when the struggle began.

"Down the hill, we went again rolling and he had bit me a time or two but he was never able to get on my upper body, so my legs took most of it," said Petrini.

Petrini says he was armed with a pistol and shot the bear as he was being mauled.

"Somehow or another, he had bitten down on my calf muscle it had basically twisted it over his bottom jaw so he died with his teeth locked and so I wasn't able to get away from him," Petrini said.

Raton Fire Department, along with Game and Fish, responded to the scene, but moving the nearly 400-pound animal proved challenging so they eventually sawed the bear's head off, leaving it attached to Petrini's leg.

"When they cut the bear's head off then they were able to maneuver to where the could get it off my leg," Petrini said.

He was flown to UNM Hospital where they deal with injuries from bear attacks from time to time.

...

Petrini says he spent a week in the hospital. He got more than 200 stitches and suffered extensive nerve and tissue damage in his right leg.

[george76]

Most fatal attacks by North American black bears during the past century were conducted by lone, male animals that stalked and then killed their human victims as prey.

A mother bear with cubs is not the most dangerous.

~ Dr. Stephen Herrero , University of Calgary

[onona]

400 Pounds !

Gadzooks.

Quite the cautionary tale.

[PGR88]

so they eventually sawed the bear's head off, leaving it attached to Petrini's leg.

If he left it on, it would make a great cocktail conversation starter at parties, as well as an excellent pick up line for women who might be curious.

[george76]

UN Agenda 21 ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)

[G Larry]

Why does the press never think to ask about the gun used in these attacks?

Captain Obvious...sez..."Because they wouldn't know or care about the significance of the answer."

[Jeff Chandler]

“So . . . what’s the story on the bear head?”

[Jeff Chandler]

I used to own a S&W 460V. If a bear would have survived that, it would have had to deal with impaired hearing.

[G Larry]

The only 460 I ever owned powered my 74 Mercury Marquis.....

[dartuser]

Where were the dogs during this episode?

[Tijeras_Slim]

ping

[Jeff Chandler]

VS

[Rusty0604]

😈

[DuncanWaring]

Ping.

[MileHi]

400 Pounds. Grumpy old boar. Good thing the guy was healed.

[Rio]

I anything like my dog, barking from a safe distance away.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Petrini says he was armed with a pistol and shot the bear as he was being mauled.

That is about the only way you are going to survive being mauled by a 400 lb bear. A great argument for being armed.

[marktwain]

Thanks.

I will see if I can contact Bridger.

[Boogieman]

[kanawa]

Wow, quite the encounter!

Thanks for the ping.

[Vermont Lt]

What kind of gun was he carrying?