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
Oh, wow. Those are some stitches.
I looked at your FReeper page, and here's the picture I like the best of Sam [sorry I don't know how to post pix, but the link should work]:
http://i5.tinypic.com/1609ab5.jpg
This knife may be fine for cutting, chopping, deboning and filet; but I don't think I'd want to use it for stabbing.
___________________
The knife is made to be used as the bladetip of a spear.
PETA would have been right to go for the director – putting such disgusting poison in the reach of a poor innocent bear.
LOL
I'm on my 3& 4th rescue..
I was dumb enough to try and raise 2 puppy's at once but now that they are adults they are wonderful.
My 2nd dog was a Wonder Dog.. She was a delight every day of her life except with her final illness.
She took my heart with her when she had to leave. My new girls helped me find it again.
Rescues are special...I tell mine all the time that they "fell into it"..
What a harrowing story. Man's best friend, indeed. Thank God you are alive and well to talk about it. And God Bless Sam.
Congrats on rescuing dogs. It's very rewarding.
Must have been quite a challenge raising two pups at once.
Always lots of fond memories of our doggies who have gone on before.
They really are man's best friend.
jm
Poor brave pup--- I thank God every day for these beautiful critters who love us so deeply, some special ones (like yours) are so loyal, stout-hearted and devoted that they would give up their lives to save us.
Best wishes and ear scrobbles to your brave guy. You and your dog are amazing.
Wow...
Goodonya, mate. Lucky to be alive, so is Sam. In this case, you made your own luck with your presence-of-mind and your courage. Most other folk would have died, knife-or-no-knife.
I salute your Mana, your Warrior Spirit. Sam's, too: whatever you do, do not lose that dog! He's one in a million.
Kia Kaha
*DieHard*
"Local Man Found After Treveling Through Bear Digestive Tract"
"Local Man Chokes on Tofu"
"Local Man Killed By Falling Protest Puppet"
FReegards, I'll crack a cool Shiner Bock in your honor this eveing!
What do we get out of it?
;-)
Stud rights?
If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and anyone else) list, largely rural issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.
I kept the "Black Dog Journal" for the first 18 months.
Unfortunately, when they grew up they started behaving really well..I didn't have any more amusing stories.
4 times I have bit my tongue. (Typed and backed out)
Stating..something to that effect...
Sounds like the ankle pain went to his head! LOL!
He could have chewed it off like a racoon in a trap and kept on truckin!!!!
I believe Davy pronounced it "Barr".
Davy Crockett's killing of that bear didn't hurt his bid for Congress one bit.
Luckily though few bears get that hungry unless they are old, wounded or dump bears who can't fend for themselves.
Bears are crazy in the spring right after they come out of hibernation. Some will eat the tires right off a truck.
Glad you waited for the 3rd cub, as you know from what you right, a bear will charge a man between her and her cub, when it starts bawling for Mama.
I truly admire and respect black bears, they usually smell you long before they hear you, and simply avoid humans.
"eeeew, ban those bad doggies!"
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.
