Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Man (Freeper kanawa) stabs bear to death
The Record.com ^ | Jul 22, 2006 | MELINDA DALTON

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


TOPICS: Canada; Free Republic; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aar; ainttimothysnackwell; baddassssonofabeech; ballsofsteel; banglist; bear; bearattack; bearsgotlousyoffense; bearwithmeonthis; bestfriend; blackbear; brave; buckknife; buckknifemodel119; canada; chicagoisnothappy; classicthread; congrats; courageous; danielboonehasnuthin; dog; doggieping; familyreunion; fearnobear; fr; freeper1bear0; freeperpitbullkicksa; freerepublic; frinthenews; grizzlyfrickenadams; handtopawcombat; hero; heybooboo; hunter; icantbearliberals; jeremiahjohnson; justthebearfacts; kanawa; kanawacrockett; kanawanowhasarug; knife; knives; legend; machomachoman; machoman; manlaw; manoaursocombat; manversusnature; nevermesswithfreep; outlawbearsnotstaffs; pajamapeoplerule; peta; pitbull; poohbeargotpwn3d; purinahalloffamer; realmenofgenius; retrosexual; rufromtexas; runswithbears; samgetssteaksforlife; samstheman; savedeachotherslife; somedaysthebeargetsu; somedaysugetthebear; sowhoneedsguns; staffordshirehero; studlyman; studmuffin; timetooutlawknives; totallykiller; tpd; whatamachoguy; whataman; wtfiswawanewsdotcom; yogibear
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 341-360361-380381-400 ... 1,021-1,039 next last
To: sinkspur
If your mommy will let you Google, you'll find 181,000 incidences of cars slamming through fences and killing children.
361 posted on 07/22/2006 10:34:48 PM PDT by AmeriBrit (Spreading the truth - Doing the job the MSM won't do!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 240 | View Replies]

To: kanawa

Nice job! Way to keep your cool and take care of the situation at hand. You are great example for the rest of us to live up to.


362 posted on 07/22/2006 10:34:50 PM PDT by church16 (“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: trussell

Thanks;-)


363 posted on 07/22/2006 10:34:57 PM PDT by bad company (When Chuck Norris goes to bed at night, he checks his closet for FReeper kanawa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 320 | View Replies]

To: kanawa

Big Bad Bear Bites the Bigun Bump


364 posted on 07/22/2006 10:36:08 PM PDT by loboinok (Gun control is, hitting what you aim at!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kanawa
I am signing off now. I will keep you and Tilley in my thoughts so that you might heal fast. May your mind and heart be calm also. If you have dreams about bear, I might be able to help. My crewman who was attacked by bear had nightmares for some time. E-mail me if you like on this should it be a problem.

Bless you and Tilley and when you go back in to the forest be prepared and alert. Nature has invited you deeper into it in a way that few men experience in modern times. In this , you are both fortunate and blessed.

365 posted on 07/22/2006 10:36:26 PM PDT by Candor7 (Into Liberal flatulance goes the best hope of the West, and who wants to be a smart feller?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: Richard-SIA
And there it is, another uncalled for attack on a breed the poster has no doubt never associated with in any way.

So many jackasses. So little time.

366 posted on 07/22/2006 10:38:28 PM PDT by GVnana (Former Alias: GVgirl)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 357 | View Replies]

To: kanawa
While the motivation for my action was my love for Sam, my choice may have given me greater odds of survival than running away would have in this instance. I would have been running towards the end of the portage where my gear was but my canoe was still at the beginning of the portage. I had no way to truly escape the area and would have been left with the difficult possibility of facing this bear, when he was done with the appetizer, in a frontal attack armed only with the knife. What would I have done, offered him my one arm to chew on while I stabbed with the other? Of course none of this was going through my mind at the time, I only saw my beloved canine friend being attacked and an opportunity to stop it.

Some years back there was a book written called The Gift of Fear The author interviewed people who had gotten away from serial killers - the few who had lived through the process. What he discovered was very similar to what happened to you. The survivors acted on instinct - and made choices that they were later able to explain, but didn't understand while the event was happening.

367 posted on 07/22/2006 10:39:17 PM PDT by GOPJ (Evolution: It's not "one" missing link - ALL the links are missing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TYVets

You aren't kidding about the bears and mountain lions around here, as I well know. Another neighbor saw a mountain lion take a calf out of a pasture in broad daylight. He was on his horse, and didn't have his rifle. He said no animal made a sound, not even his horse, or the calf, or the lion.

We don't go out in our yard without the dogs, day or night, being surrounded by a couple of thousand acres of woods.


368 posted on 07/22/2006 10:40:26 PM PDT by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 235 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

I own that book. It's outstanding.


369 posted on 07/22/2006 10:42:17 PM PDT by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 367 | View Replies]

To: GVnana

Same to you bub.

I have had several "Pit Bull Terriers", with zero problems.

The original post illustrated their loyalty and intelligence, YOU are the one who just had to be first to trot out the tired MSM supported stereotype!


370 posted on 07/22/2006 10:44:02 PM PDT by Richard-SIA ("The natural progress of things is for government to gain ground and for liberty to yield" JEFFERSON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 366 | View Replies]

To: Ladysmith; kanawa

Chuck Norris ain't got nothin' on that guy...


371 posted on 07/22/2006 10:46:11 PM PDT by maui_hawaii
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 338 | View Replies]

To: Mordacious

Thanks! It's nice to be appreciated.


372 posted on 07/22/2006 10:49:17 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Wednesday, June 21, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 346 | View Replies]

To: kanawa
Wow. What a remarkable story.

You are blessed to have such a great dog and he is blessed to have such a fine owner/dad.

You two have such tremendous courage and may your relationship with Sam last for many years.

373 posted on 07/22/2006 10:52:55 PM PDT by LdSentinal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kanawa; Candor7

It's amazing how the Lord prepared you for all of this, too! Don't listen to Candor's mysticism about the bear's spirit etc. Just trust the Lord to continue to protect you. He sure was faithful! PTL!


374 posted on 07/22/2006 10:53:55 PM PDT by gentlestrength (Lord, open my ears that I may hear)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 372 | View Replies]

To: kanawa

What a beautiful boy! No wonder you love him so.

God bless you and your faithful Sam! I offer God thanks for your safety...


375 posted on 07/22/2006 10:55:12 PM PDT by dandelion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gentlestrength
Sure I agree. Kanawa, ask yourself why the Lord sent the bear to you and Tilley. If you have a brain and heart, the Good Lord meant for you to use both, and a sheep you ain't!
376 posted on 07/22/2006 10:58:48 PM PDT by Candor7 (Into Liberal flatulance goes the best hope of the West, and who wants to be a smart feller?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 374 | View Replies]

To: kanawa
Astonishing !
Its amazing that six inches of blade served you so well. Its impressive that your pup stood up for your defense. Its a tribute to his good character.
377 posted on 07/22/2006 10:59:42 PM PDT by pyx (Rule #1. The LEFT lies. Rule #2. See Rule #1.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kanawa

Good job by the both of you. There have been many a dog voluntarily lay down his life for his owner, but I'm glad it didn't come to that this time.


378 posted on 07/22/2006 11:32:11 PM PDT by tarawa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kanawa; Wolfstar; DollyCali; WVNan; MEG33; Howlin; onyx; beyond the sea; snugs; NordP; MJY1288
My lord .. I cannot imagine confronting such a desperate situation!! Thank God for His gifts that enabled instinctively right thinking and actions to kick in at the right time. You're one incredibly brave and blessed man, sir. You looked death in the eye and won. WOW.

Folks who aren't pet lovers just can't grasp that bond .. a beloved pet is another child to us. What a Super Sam, the angel .. his instincts kicked in like yours did .. totally breathtaking. He sure does he love you. You've both lived through something none of us ever will, and both deserve medals. Thank you so much for sharing this .. I hope both your wounds heal well and quickly. Maybe .. stay out of the woods for awhile, and keep us posted on the movie ;).


379 posted on 07/23/2006 12:08:35 AM PDT by STARWISE (They (Rats) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 378 | View Replies]

To: Inyo-Mono

Yes, bit me in my sleep, made it to the end of the bed and keeled over. I finally figgured out why he was in my bed, I use to sleep on a roll neck pillow full of barley husks.

He must have been looking for a midnight snack.


380 posted on 07/23/2006 12:16:43 AM PDT by MissAmericanPie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 175 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 341-360361-380381-400 ... 1,021-1,039 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson