The Bear Attack
We made this a separate blog because more details have become available.
We told you about the Tall Tales Harvest Dinner on Friday, November 10 orchestrated by President Smith. We met him our first week here. He is the first counselor in the Mission Presidency and in our Temple View ward. He was out with Brother Light, one of the Patriarch's sons on Thursday, November 16, on Hidden Creek Trail when he was attacked by a brown bear!
Grizzlies are actually a subspecies of brown bear...Coastal brown bears have a fatty, salmon-rich diet, which is why those found along the Alaska Peninsula are the largest in the world... Brown bears on the shores of Alaska can reach massive proportions, weighing up to 1,650 pounds and standing 9 feet tall on hind feet.He related the following again in Priesthood Meeting on November 26, 2023 (at least as close as my memory allows).
He was on a Kenai Peninsula hiking trail, known for bear activity, but thought it was late enough in the season that the bears would be hibernating. They do not go on that trail in July, August, and September because it is right by the river and the bears will go to the river for salmon and then pull them back up on the trail to eat. They spotted the sow across the river about 150 feet from their position. They were retreating when the bear disappeared over a ridge and then came out of the brush and immediately charged. He had just enough time to step behind two trees about 4" in diameter spaced less than two feet apart. He was also behind some bushes. The bear made it through that protection without slowing down. She knocked him down and started chewing on his head. He was trying to push it away with one arm. The bear broke his wrist in two places, tore ligaments, and pulled it out of the socket. Brother Light screamed and waved his arms causing the bear to look up. At which point Pres. Smith saw a yearling cub walking toward him on its hind legs in an agitated state. Adult bears will hold down prey and let the cub come in for the kill. He was able to roll over in an effort to protect his liver and stomach which is the usual target for a bear. They were apparently not aware there was a cub in the area. President Smith did not have a gun.
The word from the local biologist who is Pres. Smith's friend is that if the bear is within 50 ft. you have to have the gun unholstered and cocked to have any chance. They call that the kill radius. His arms were scratched up needing stitches and the bear's jaws were so big they left bite marks on both sides of his face near his ears. He also had long deep cuts (claws or teeth) in his torso. The bear bit him one last time on his backside before leaving. He estimates that the total elapsed time was less than 15 seconds. He washed his face off with snow and managed to walk a short distance to a lake where he sat down. The thought went through his mind that he might still get a little fishing in. President Smith could tell he was going into shock and was in trouble and asked Brother Light to give him a blessing, which he did. His friend was then able to climb back up the hill in the snow which they had just descended to an area that Pres. Smith remembered might have some cell coverage. Brother Light had one bar and was able to call 911. It was reported Pres. Smith was giving his friend pointers and was disappointed they didn't catch anything during their wait.
It was two hours before emergency personnel were able to reach him. Two Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrived by snowmobile. They were thrilled to find he was alive, as most bear attacks don't have such positive outcomes. The helicopter was flying a grid pattern to find him. The troopers were able to call it into the correct location. He told others he was 15 seconds away from death. When he arrived at the hospital all the medical personnel came in to see him because he had survived a bear attack and was famous. We heard Monday from a friend of a close relative that he had been having a hard time sleeping due to PTSD. We were so grateful at Thanksgiving to hear he doesn't remember anything about the bear's smell, fur, details of the attack, etc., and is recovering physically as well as mentally. This is truly a miracle. While the experience was happening he was comforted to know he would live and he had people's lives to touch and in that instant was given their names. He was teary as he expressed deep feelings about living our covenants.
We also heard a few days after the attack he was at Costco and a woman saw him and asked about his arm, which was in a sling. He told her he had been attacked by a bear. She exclaimed, "You're the one! The whole Kenai has been praying for you!"
He was in the Anchorage AK Mission Office and the secretary, Sister White, said other than looking a little scruffy because he couldn't shave yet and a sling on his arm you would never know anything had happened. He was jovial as always and was so appreciative of all his blessings. They continue to check for infection from the bite marks and he will get more stitches in the deep wounds as soon as they are ready. He is anxious to go fishing again.
We saw and talked to President Smith today after Sacrament meeting and he is healing well and in good spirits. He had one small 3/4" scratch on the side of his face and was clean-shaven. His fingers were bruised, but he showed us they all worked, and he is thankful to be whole and alive.
We are grateful he is alive and received prompt medical attention, and pray he heals quickly and recovers from the trauma. Our prayers have been answered in large part already. He will have a great Tall Tale to tell next year at the Wild Game night.
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