Man fights bear to save son.

Man Saves Son, Fights Off Bear With Stick

6/11/2009

A 77-year-old man from Grande Cache, Alberta saved his son from a protective mother bear attack by beating the animal off with a walking stick.

Tom Wanyandie and his son James were taking a hike through the woods last Saturday looking for moose antlers to form into pieces of art when they encountered the bear and her cub. The bear lunged at James, and with no time to react, Tom attacked back.

"I was thinking about God and that he would protect us," Tom said to Canada’s National Post. "With God in my head, I took that walking stick and beat the bear, then I shoved it down his throat."

Tom suffered from a broken arm and several cuts and bruises, but his son is alive, thanks to his heroic efforts.

"He was a brave man. Not many people could fend off a bear like that," James said. "We'll probably go back into the woods together when we heal."

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

note to self: never attack a man with a walking stick!

wow - good job, and so much about the saying that there's nothing meaner than a mother bear!

Protective mother vs. protective father.

"In this corner we have 77-year-old Tom 'The Walking Stick' Wanyandie weighing in at 172 pounds and standing 5 foot 8-inches!"
 
"And in this corner, frothing from the mouth, we have the sleek and ebony-colored four and a half year old Mama 'The Alberta Mayhem' black bear weighing in at an even 235 pounds and standing a menacing 6 foot 2-inches!"
 
Sorry... I couldn't resist.  Great story!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve