Hunter shoots himself while fighting off grizzly bear attack in Wyoming

A hunter unintentionally shot himself within the leg whereas making an attempt to combat off a grizzly bear assault in west-central Wyoming – the second such assault in per week’s time, officers stated.

Lee Francis, 65, of Evanston, was taken to the College of Utah Well being hospital for therapy after the encounter on Friday, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Workplace stated. Sue Winchester, a hospital spokesperson, stated Sunday she didn’t have permission to launch any details about Francis’ situation.

Francis was looking along with his son in an space south of Grand Teton Nationwide Park on Friday night when the bear attacked him. He was in a position to hearth a number of rounds from his handgun, inflicting the bear to run away, however one of many rounds hit Francis within the decrease leg, the sheriff’s workplace stated.

His son used a satellite tv for pc telephone to name for assist simply earlier than 6 p.m., then started offering first assist. His son was in a position to assist his father onto a horse and so they headed towards a close-by lake to satisfy search and rescue crews. Francis was ultimately taken to the hospital by way of helicopter, the sheriff’s workplace stated in a press release.

Wildlife officers haven’t situated the grizzly bear, Sgt. Travis Bingham with the Sublette County Sheriff’s Workplace stated Sunday. As a result of it was snowing, Sport and Fish deliberate to attempt to seek for the bear once more on Monday, climate allowing, he stated.

Wyoming Sport and Fish was additionally notified and sport wardens are at present conducting an investigation, the sheriff’s workplace stated.

Friday’s assault was the second grizzly bear mauling in Wyoming in per week.

Two Northwest Faculty wrestlers had been attacked by a grizzly bear whereas they had been looking for antlers shed by deer and elk within the Cody space on Oct. 15.

The bear first attacked Brady Lowry, of Cedar Metropolis, Utah, breaking his arm and inflicting different accidents.

Kendell Cummings yelled at and kicked the bear and threw rocks at it earlier than pulling on its ear to get it to cease. Nevertheless, the bear turned its fury on Cummings, attacking him twice. Cummings, who’s from Evanston, underwent a number of hours of surgical procedure and ended up with about 60 staples in his head and a whole bunch of stitches to deal with his accidents, his father stated in a social media submit.

“It was horrific. The boys exhibited braveness that individuals cannot even think about,” KTVQ quoted head wrestling coach Jim Zeigler as saying. “They do love one another and we talk always by way of group textual content and one of many issues I at all times say to them is, you realize, thanks for loving one another, and it paid [off]. “