British Columbia

B.C. man kills grizzly that attacked him

A hunter is recovering at home after he was attacked by a grizzly bear that he was ultimately able to shoot and kill.

Hunter set upon by bear that knocked him down and crushed his jaw

Conrad Boyes is recovering at home from a broken jaw and hand and arm injuries after he was attacked by a grizzly bear. (Submitted by Paul Alberts)

A hunter is recovering at home in northern B.C. after he shot and killed a grizzly bear that was attacking him.

Conrad Boyes, of Vanderhoof, B.C., said he was hunting in a remote area near Fort Nelson earlier this month when he was confronted by the grizzly.

He said the bear stood up on its hind legs and let out a roar. The next thing he knew, he was on the ground wrestling with the huge animal.

"She crunched down on my jaw on my left side ...  busted my jaw all to pieces," Boyes told CBC News Monday.

"I ripped my gun down from my shoulder, took the safety off and pulled the trigger twice, and she was just on top of me," he said. "I got my gun in front of me, and then bang-bang, and that was it."

Boyes suffered a broken jaw, and several deep cuts to his face and body.

He walked 45 minutes to his camp, where his family called for help.

Boyes was taken to an Edmonton hospital soon after the attack. (Submitted by Paul Alberts)

Boyes was then airlifted to Fort Nelson and later transported to a hospital in Edmonton.

He said his recovery has been quicker than expected, and he plans to return to hunting as soon as possible.

"Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to next year. We're going hunting again. We're going back there next year."

A 65-year-old man from Alaska is recovering in hospital in Vancouver after was attacked by a grizzly bear in northern B.C. Sept. 18. The man was fishing on the Morice River near Houston when he inadvertently got between a grizzly and her cubs.

The man suffered severe head injuries in the attack.

With files from the CBC's Marissa Harvey