A San Diego man is recovering after surviving a grizzly bear assault whereas mountain climbing in Montana’s Glacier Nationwide Park, an encounter he says he was lucky to flee together with his life.
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Daniel Crago, an avid outdoorsman, was mountain climbing alongside the Grinnell Glacier Path on Could 28 throughout what was purported to be the ultimate day of a weeklong trip full of outside adventures.
“My love for nature sort of began after I was younger,” Crago stated.
After greater than 20 miles of mountain climbing all through the week, Crago was nearing the tip of his journey together with his buddy when he encountered a bear cub close to the path.
“One thing catches my consideration off to the left. I look over and it was a smaller cub,” he recalled.
Moments later, he noticed a bigger grizzly bear close by.
“Not more than 15 toes above on the hill and on the identical snow patch was a bigger grizzly bear,” Crago stated.
Recognizing the hazard, he tried to comply with the usual steerage for bear encounters.
“Panic set in however I attempted to remain calm and do as you’re advised and taught to do if you see a bear, simply alert the bear, allow them to know you’re there so that you don’t frighten them,” he stated.
The scenario escalated nearly instantly.
“As quickly as we made eye contact, it charged at me,” Crago stated. “It took sort of two steps and leaped at me, open arms and a roar. I threw my arm up in self-defense to guard my face, and fortunately that’s what it bit.”
The assault unfolded in seconds, however the expertise left an enduring influence.
“As quickly because it began operating at me, the considered ‘that is it’ went by way of my thoughts,” Crago stated, turning into emotional as he recounted the second.
The bear dragged him roughly 20 toes earlier than leaving him within the snow.
Fortuitously, two close by hikers got here to his support. One among them was a health care provider, who instantly started offering medical help till emergency responders arrived.
Crago was airlifted to a hospital, the place he has undergone a number of surgical procedures and faces at the very least yet another process as he continues his restoration.
The accidents have been extreme.
“Fortunately it missed the main artery, missed the main nerves within the arm so I can nonetheless transfer my fingers somewhat bit, can nonetheless really feel all of them,” Crago stated. “However the forearm was fully open, and each bones fully damaged. There was some bone loss.”
Regardless of the bodily and emotional trauma, Crago says he’s fortunate to be alive. The encounter has additionally not diminished his appreciation for the outside.
“I nonetheless love the outside, and it’s their setting and we’re fortunate to share it,” Crago stated.
In response to analysis printed within the scientific journal Nature, most individuals survive grizzly bear assaults, with somewhat greater than 14 % proving deadly. Nonetheless, Crago considers himself lucky to be alive and optimistic that he’ll finally make a full restoration.
A fundraiser set as much as assist cowl the price of his surgical procedures has practically reached its aim. Crago has stated that any cash raised past what is required for his medical bills can be donated to the Nationwide Park Service.
