A hunter unintentionally shot himself within the leg while attempting to fight off a grizzly bear in Wyoming — the second such attack in per week, officials said.
Lee Francis, 65, of Evanston, was hunting along with his son south of Grand Teton National Park Friday when the animal attacked him, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office said.
Francis managed to fireside several rounds from his handgun, scaring the bear away, but one in all the bullets struck the person within the lower leg.
Francis’ son used a satellite phone to call for help just before 6 p.m., then helped his wounded father onto a horse they usually each headed toward a close-by lake to fulfill rescuers.
Francis was taken by helicopter to the University of Utah Health hospital for treatment. There was no immediate word on his condition.
Wildlife officials haven’t situated the grizzly bear that attacked the hunter, Sgt. Travis Bingham said Sunday. Since it was snowing, Game and Fish planned to try to look for the beast again Monday, weather permitting, he said.
Photos shared on Francis’ Facebook page show that he’s an avid hunter who has bagged bears, deer and elk up to now.
Friday’s attack got here lower than per week after a grizzly bear mauled two Northwest College wrestlers in Wyoming.
Brady Lowry and Kendell Cummings were in search of deer and elk antlers within the Cody area on Oct. 15 when the bear charged them.
The animal first attacked Lowry, breaking his arm and causing other injuries.
Cummings yelled at and kicked the bear and threw rocks at it before pulling on its ear to get it to stop. Nevertheless, the bear turned its fury on Cummings, attacking him twice.
Cummings, who’s from Evanston, underwent several hours of surgery and ended up with about 60 staples in his head and a whole lot of stitches to treat his injuries, his father said in a social media post.
With Post wires