Bear Attack

[Mike]

British Columbia woman battles with bear
Updated Sun. Oct. 15 2006 11:24 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A Port Moody, B.C. woman was nursing deep bite wounds on Sunday after a run-in with a black bear on her front lawn on Saturday near midnight.

Jan Lanz, 57, heard her dog barking and went outside to investigate. When she saw her dog barking at a bear going through her garbage, she picked up a garbage can.

"I whipped the can as hard as I could and hit the bear in the head," Lanz told CTV Vancouver in an interview from her bed Sunday morning.

The bear took off, and Lanz thought the incident was over.

What Lanz didn't know was that there were two bear cubs hiding in the trees of her yard. The bear hadn't left. She had circled around and returned to protect her cubs

"I heard a sound behind me, I turned around, and all of a sudden the bear grabbed my (left) thigh in her mouth," said Lanz. "I couldn't believe what was happening -- I reacted and smacked the bear on the head."

Luckily for Lanz, the bear released her leg from its jaws, leaving 2.5-centimetre puncture wounds behind. As the animal fled, Lanz's son threw an ironing board at it before helping his mother inside.

Bear sightings are common in Port Moody, authorities said. Port Moody is part of the Greater Vancouver area, sitting at the far eastern end of Burrard Inlet. While it is a rural community set in the trees, encounters like this one are rare.

Police have determined it was not an intentional attack. The bear was attracted by garbage left behind by city crews after a collection day. Lanz said she doesn't normally leave garbage out -- and paid a high price for the oversight.

The bear and her cubs will not be hunted down or destroyed, police said.

"She got in between the mother bear and the two cubs, the dog is fighting with the two bears, and there's a lot of screaming and yelling and commotion," explained Port Moody Const. Phil Reid.

"I can just imagine that mama bear was a little concerned and took a bite of the victim," he said.

The dog also got attacked by the cubs and required some veterinary care for injuries to its nose, tail and neck.

With a report from CTV Vancouver's Lisa Rossington

 

[Red Robin]

Police have determined it was not an intentional attack.

That's a pretty stupid statement. Do they think she bit the woman by mistake???

 

[Southdakotahunter]

No, they are saying the bear attacked her because it was protecting its cubs. The woman also says she screwed up with her garbage.

 

[Red Robin]

No, they are saying the bear attacked her because it was protecting its cubs. The woman also says she screwed up with her garbage.

Any bear around a house eating garbage needs shooting. Surely even you know that SDH. This isn't wild kingdom. Shoot the blooming bear! One eats my trash, I'll put fast lead in him.

 

[Southdakotahunter]

I didnt say anything about the bear not being a prob, because it was.

This may or may not be the case, but often times people build in areas secluded somewhat and wonder why wildlife comes around. I dont know the area this happened but am betting it wasnt like downtown Manhattan.

When you live in areas when these critters roam, sometime you will be in contact with them. Its hard to tell why the animal was there, its a tragedy when someone gets hurt by a wild animal.

 

[Red Robin]

I didnt say anything about the bear not being a prob, because it was.

This may or may not be the case, but often times people build in areas secluded somewhat and wonder why wildlife comes around. I dont know the area this happened but am betting it wasnt like downtown Manhattan.

When you live in areas when these critters roam, sometime you will be in contact with them. Its hard to tell why the animal was there, its a tragedy when someone gets hurt by a wild animal.

I still hear a an attitude or feeling coming from you SDH like we've moved into their livingroom if we move to remote areas. To me if one wants to move into the bears neighborhood and then has trouble with the bear, shooting a bear that is at the house eating trash (not to mention biting dogs and women) is reasonable. We're men, they're animals.

 

[Nicky]

Yikes...look out Judith!

 

[Mrs.Greg]

That areas known for bears,and apparently this womans used to dealing with thier pestiness.Really though anyone who knows anything about bears...they protect thier young.It was just unfortunate the events. If you live in bear country you know how to respect them,the woman knew it was really her own fault......and anyway who hits a bear with a garbage can,heck I'd be pissed if hit :!: {just joking...kinda} Waiting for Judiths take on this.

 

[Red Robin]

Judith would have ended up with her norwegian head stuck in the trash can. :lol:

 

[Northern Rancher]

For starters you put your garbage in a bearproof dumpster in bear country-for seconds you don't get in a fight with one over your garbage. She was lucky it could of been alot worse.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

For starters you put your garbage in a bearproof dumpster in bear country-for seconds you don't get in a fight with one over your garbage. She was lucky it could of been alot worse.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[Judith]

Dang I have been being mocked and I missed it!!!! My chance for tongue in cheek replies is long gone on this one Dang it!

The woman was a bit of a dunce for going after the bear in the first place.

Her first mistake was leaving the garbage out. Second mistake was to not check its genitals before starting a fight with it. I know it was midnight and she couldnt see clearly, probably left her glasses in the house, but still.... You always check the naughty bits before engaging a bear in a tussle.

She was very lucky she was bearly scratched on this one, it is very unusual for a momma bear to bite and retreat. They generally go for the head. bottom line, your hooped. Very unusual for a bear to attack, even with babies.

I have only seen two bears here since 1986 both were yearlings, maybe two year olds. They were obviously lost having been displaced by our housing boom. I blame the NDP.

And that said there is NO way I would have gotten my head stuck in the garbage can. The bears head was already in there! ( I have already explained how large my head is , no way the bear would had fit)

 

[Red Robin]

Dang I have been being mocked and I missed it!!!! My chance for tongue in cheek replies is long gone on this one Dang it!

The woman was a bit of a dunce for going after the bear in the first place.

Her first mistake was leaving the garbage out. Second mistake was to not check its genitals before starting a fight with it. I know it was midnight and she couldnt see clearly, probably left her glasses in the house, but still.... You always check the naughty bits before engaging a bear in a tussle.

She was very lucky she was bearly scratched on this one, it is very unusual for a momma bear to bite and retreat. They generally go for the head. bottom line, your hooped. Very unusual for a bear to attack, even with babies.

I have only seen two bears here since 1986 both were yearlings, maybe two year olds. They were obviously lost having been displaced by our housing boom. I blame the NDP.

And that said there is NO way I would have gotten my head stuck in the garbage can. The bears head was already in there! ( I have already explained how large my head is , no way the bear would had fit)

You're a good sport Judith. :lol: