Bear that attacked man was diseased: official

Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, September 13, 2008

The black bear that attacked a man on his boat while docked in Port Renfrew was old, thin and suffering from jaw damage and liver disease, the provincial Conservation Officer Service said yesterday.

Gord Hitchcock, the service's operations manager for Vancouver Island, also said in an interview that the Port Renfrew Marina and RV Park had bear problems for two months before the Sept. 9 attack and had been repeatedly instructed to take action to reduce bear attractants, such as an outdoor garbage bin.

Hitchcock said preliminary necropsy results from provincial wildlife veterinarian Helen Schwantje suggest the "very aged male bear" had a thin body, liver disease, worn teeth and evidence of an old jaw injury.

Individuals who witnessed the attack used gaffs, a knife and a hammer to subdue and kill the bear.

The victim, 52-year-old Blain Pharis of Saltspring Island, was airlifted to Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital for treatment.

The bear involved in the attack had no garbage in its stomach and it was unclear whether it was the same animal that had been seeking garbage at the RV park. No bears have been causing problems there since the attack.

No one could be reached for comment yesterday at the marina operation.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008

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