Photo-BRENDA GRUNDT, WWW.WAWA-NEWS.COM
Posted on 07/22/2006 5:30:03 PM PDT by kanawa
A Waterloo man and his dog made a harrowing escape from the clutches of a vicious black bear Thursday while portaging near Wawa, Ont.
Tom Tilley, 55, killed the nearly 200-pound bear by jumping on its back and stabbing the aggressive animal with a six-inch hunting knife after his dog alerted him and distracted the bear.
"Love is a very powerful emotion and my thought right away was, 'You're not going to kill my dog,' " Tilley said yesterday.
"I really consider my dog a hero. Without that first warning I would have had the bear clamping down on my neck."
Tilley had planned on spending 12 days portaging through the area near Wawa with his American Staffordshire, Sam.
Four days into the trip, as he was making his third trip back to the water near Abbey Lake to retrieve his gear, he heard his dog growl and noticed the bear closing in on him. He said he did what he's been taught to do when a bear is close -- he starting waving his arms and slowing started backing away from the animal.
The bear moved off the trail, but a few seconds later reappeared, cutting off Tilley's escape route.
"That's when I knew I had a serious problem . . . I was lunch," he said.
Sam, who was behind Tilley before the bear moved up the trail, was now between the bear and his owner. Instead of taking an aggressive stance, the dog stood sideways blocking the bear's route.
"The bear took a few steps down the trail and clamped its mouth on the back of my dog," Tilley said. "By attracting the bear's attention like that and distracting the bear from me it gave me the quick opportunity I needed to run around to the back of the bear, get on its back and with my knife start stabbing it."
Tilley had recently purchased the knife that would save his life after reading the story of Jacqueline Perry, the young Cambridge doctor who was killed by a bear last September.
Perry's husband attempted to fend off the animal with a Swiss Army Knife -- the only weapon he had.
"When I read the report about her death, it really hit home to me that these things are possible," Tilley said.
"I owe her husband a real debt of gratitude because if I hadn't heard her story and got that knife, I wouldn't be telling this story."
After making sure the animal was dead, Tilley realized he had suffered a wound to his hand and Sam had two puncture marks on his back. He needed to get help, but was a two-day portage away from civilization.
Dragging his canoe across the short portage, Tilley paddled for about an hour before he came across a pair of Americans who happened to have a satellite phone.
They called for help and two hours later, a cargo plane arrived to take Tilley back to Wawa for medical attention.
He was treated and released from hospital.
News of his feat passed quickly through the small community, with a population of just over 3,000.
"He had a lot of cojones to do what he did," said Brenda Grundt, who operates the local news site Wawa-news.com and drove Tilley two hours back to where he'd left his van after the incident.
LUCKY TO HAVE KNIFE
"It's pretty amazing. Here's a guy that wouldn't be here if he hadn't happened to have a knife on him."
As for Tilley, it wasn't until he was back in his van alone with Sam that he took in the gravity of the situation.
"I just thanked God I was alive and that my dog was alive and cried a bit, but they were tears of thanks and relief," he said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources has sent the bear's body to Guelph and Ottawa for testing.
"It's very unusual for a bear to attack a person (and) pretty amazing this gentleman was able to kill it just with a knife," said Jolanta Kowalski, spokes-person for the ministry.
Because Wawa doesn't have a veterinarian's office and a specialist wasn't available to treat his hand, Tilley decided to push through and make the long journey home that night.
Back in Waterloo, news of his experience trickled back to amazed friends and family. Despite the danger, Tilley said the incident hasn't erased his love of the outdoors.
"My daughter says I'm not allowed to go up there anymore," he said with a laugh. " But I left my canoe there knowing I'll have to go back to get it."
Photo-BRENDA GRUNDT, WWW.WAWA-NEWS.COM
Or tried to dial 911...
"I know you are - but what am I ???"
I will ask you, again, to leave me out of your fights, and your dumbass posts.
Sorry, here is the Federal legislature.
Dogs and Homeowners Insurance
House Bill 4516
A new bill, H. 4516 , would prevent insurance companies from refusing to insure homeowners because they own a dog of a certain breed. The hearing was on March 14th at 11 at the State House. The MSPCA's Issues and Answers provides more information about this issue. This bill was send to a study committee on May 1, 2006.
That's the exact image I have in my head of sinkspur--you nailed it!
Damn Dude! I really don't know what to say! I'm glad you and your buddy are OK.
And won't.
I think it will. We shall find out though :)
Holy Moly, I want one of them knives.
You never did say who manufactures the knife. I could possibly sell millions of them to my outdoor connections.
I have Leatherman knives, and some other knife/deboners. Also, I wouldn't mind having a dog like that for backup. I have a big old goofy English setter, and she'd of got her head smacked off by that bear -- she'd have run up and tried to lick it.
Can you give me (and other freepers) a name of the knife manufacturer?
Back in 1995 Purina sent me to St. Louis and I spent a few days at their headquarters, and have some contacts there. I would be more than willing to call on them to honor your dog, he deserves the Hall of Fame honor.
bttt for later read
You, sir, are a helluva man. And your dog is a helluva dog.
I owe each of you a beer if we ever meet. I tip my hat to you, sir. You are a true warrior.
A remarkable tale.
Im glad you are here to tell it!
But do yourself a favor and get a 44 magnum ;)
Youre a brave fellow Tom!
My dad used to go fishing in Ontario years ago and really enjoyed it. At the camp where he stayed (Witch Bay Camp, if it is still there) he said that he woke up one morning, left his cabin to go to the kitchen for some coffee, and found a dead bear outside the kitchen door. It had tried to break in, and was shot.
We've lived in the rural Ozarks for years. Plenty of bears around, one broke into a woman's back porch and raided her freezer (right in town). I saw one, driving to work one night, on the side of a road. Cinnamon colored, although we are only supposed to have black bears around here.
You don't have to go camping in the woods to run into bears--if you choose not to live in the city, you will eventually run across a bear. Our neighbors raised boar goats, and a bear broke into their feed shed. Fortunately, they had a video of it. Sometimes the local forestry or conservation agents don't want to believe people's stories.
I've actually sat here wondering if I want to hire Sam as a stud for my pitbull.
I've never bred her nor considered it. Now Sam comes along...
Roy Horn
The bear might have thought you were this guy
Now that's one aitch of a story!
You lucky sob!
Damn!
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