Report: Friday attack ended when grizzly bit into can of bear spray

Posted 5/5/20

The grizzly bear that attacked a Cody antler hunter on Friday morning in Sunlight Basin was apparently surprised by the hiker; the bear ended its attack after biting into a bottle of bear spray, the …

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Report: Friday attack ended when grizzly bit into can of bear spray

Posted

The grizzly bear that attacked a Cody antler hunter on Friday morning in Sunlight Basin was apparently surprised by the hiker; the bear ended its attack after biting into a bottle of bear spray, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says.

Spencer Smith, 41, had been hiking by himself “in steep, moderately heavy timber” when he was attacked by the grizzly, the Game and Fish said in a Tuesday news release summarizing its investigation of the incident. The release said Smith “was unaware of the bear until it made contact with him.”

Smith was ultimately flown by helicopter to a Billings hospital for treatment, officials have said.

The adult, male grizzly injured Smith’s neck and other parts of his body. The Game and Fish says the adult bear apparently stopped its attack after biting into a canister of bear spray that Smith had holstered on his hip. That ruptured the canister and presumably poured the spicy aerosol mixture into the bruin’s mouth.

The Game and Fish later found a daybed “in heavy cover,” about 30 yards from where Smith was attacked in the East Painter Creek Drainage. Evidence at the scene indicated that the bear was either in or near that daybed at the time of the incident, the department said.

Dan Smith, the Game and Fish’s Cody Regional supervisor, said Friday’s incident appeared to have been a surprise encounter.

“The bear was likely behaving in a defensive manner resulting from an unexpected, close encounter,” he said.
Game and Fish personnel were unable to locate the animal.

“Due to the circumstances involving a surprise encounter and the inability to identify the individual bear, Game and Fish does not plan to take management action at this time, and no area closures have been implemented,” the department said in its release. “Game and Fish will continue to monitor bear activity in the area and will make management decisions in the best interest of public safety.”

After being attacked, Spencer Smith sent a distress signal from his satellite communication device, which the Park County Sheriff’s Office received around 10:47 a.m. Friday. Despite “severe” injuries to his neck, Smith was able to walk about 1.5 miles to his ATV, where Game Warden Chris Queen found him around 11:30 a.m. A helicopter from Guardian Flight flew him to St. Vincent’s Hospital around noon.

“This is a very traumatic experience for a person to go through,” Dan Smith said in Tuesday’s release. “We wish Spencer the very best for a full and speedy recovery.”

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