TETON COUNTY, Wyo. – A disabled combat veteran from Massachusetts is recounting a terrifying encounter with a grizzly bear in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Shayne Patrick, 35, of South Hadley, was left seriously injured after being attacked by the bear near Signal Mountain Summit Road, overlooking Jackson Lake.
According to Patrick, the attack occurred when he came across a mother grizzly bear protecting her cub while exploring a wooded area. Despite being a combat veteran with experience in dangerous situations, including being shot at, mortared, and surviving IED explosions, Patrick described the bear attack as the most violent experience of his life.
Accompanied by his wife, who remained at the trailhead parking lot, Patrick had gone to Signal Mountain with hopes of photographing a Great Grey Owl. As he ventured through the valley, he encountered the bear cub before the mother bear charged at him. Despite attempting to use bear spray, the bear attacked him, causing severe injuries to his back, shoulder, and legs.
In a stroke of luck, a can of bear repellant saved Patrick’s life when it exploded in the bear’s mouth as it went in for a fatal bite on his neck. Following the harrowing incident, Patrick managed to improvise tourniquets to stem the bleeding before rescue crews located him and rushed him to the hospital.
The National Park Service advises visitors to carry bear spray when exploring remote areas like Grand Teton National Park to reduce the risk of bear encounters and injuries. Furthermore, the park service emphasizes the importance of calmly deterring bears by slowly backing away without making direct eye contact or running, as these actions could provoke non-aggressive bears.
Despite sustaining puncture wounds to his hand, legs, and back, Patrick requested that park rangers refrain from euthanizing the bear, understanding that she was simply protecting her cub. This encounter serves as a stark reminder of the importance of wildlife safety measures in national parks to ensure the well-being of both visitors and animals.