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
I believe you are being DRAGGED to another thread.
Great story and great dog!
That story is WAY better than the measly killing the bear thing... ;-)
That rocks! That is what I want.
304
There was some satisfaction in the sensation as the knife first sank deep into his neck
The first few thrusts had an immediate affect on him and he weakened rapidly.
I kept on until he stopped moving...
Look at the TEETH on that thing! So, Sam wasn't badly hurt? How long before this monster released his grip on your boy?
You must have hit an artery immediately. The drop in pressure on his brain would have weakened him that fast.
Great pics on this whole thread, BTW, thanks.
Where's the notch on the handle for 1 bear kill?
Ping, if you haven't been already. I think you'll love this story.
Sign me up, I'll take two.
I was too slow, the first knives are coming off the assembly line at girlangler's factories as we speak.
Signed and number knives in a Turkish Walnut case are $995.50 each.
Consecutive numbered knives signed by Kanawa in a display case are $2,499.00 for two.
Rumor has it that Inyo-Mono has filed a federal law suit in the 9th Circuit Court.
By daylight tomorrow he may own the factories and the State of Tennessee.
LOL!
Just Wow !!
LOL! You're killing me!
I hope the provincial wildlife folks allow you to taxidermize the bear into a rug or blanket, if you want.
Be careful when you go back into the woods, I am a superstitious sort, must be the Miq Maq blood in me. According to Indian lore, this will not likely be the last bear you will encounter him in the deep forests. The bear is your totem now, as it is mine from a long time ago, and you will see him again.
Do not worry if you dream about him, the bear is now both your reminder of warriorship, and your protector spirit.
If you are of that mind and heart, seek out a native Canadian medicine man. He will tell you what to do. You should try to keep the claws of the bear if you can get them from the wildlife folks after they finish testing it.
Camping is an American pasttime. I have camped, while pregnant and with a 5 year old daughter with me. Many people camp regardless of what animal life might be present at the time.
Sign me up for two!!!
Love your tagline bc...one typo needs correcting, but it's easy to tell what you mean.
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