Posted on 08/26/2010 10:23:28 AM PDT by george76
A Norwegian kayaker who was dragged by his head for 45 yards in the jaws of a polar bear has told how he escaped when his expedition partner shot the animal dead.
Despite protecting their tent with a trip-wire hooked to a early warning flare, Mr Nilssen woke face-to-face with the biggest land predator on Earth.
The 23-year-old was dragged screaming from the tent, with his head clamped in the animal's jaws.
The adult male bear flung the young explorer's body like a rag doll from side to side in an attempt to stun him, a technique typically used on its usual prey of seals.
The polar bear's teeth pierced Mr Nilssen's lung as it fought for a better grip and narrowly missed a main artery in the young Norwegian's neck.
"It was so strong I could not fight, I grabbed for my shotgun and tried to shoot it but [the polar bear] had snapped [the gun] in half.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I own a 12 guage âcoachâ gun in which I installed rifled chokes to fire 3 inch hollow point sabot slugs [50cal]. As a defensive weapon, I submit this combo would be lethal to any bear.....IMO.
At least this was not an “I love you bear” moment.
At last! Someone admits that a wild animal was acting like a wild animal. The usual explanation blames humans for modifying the animal's behavior.
Aren’t grizzlies bigger than polar bears, also?
Actually, I think polar bears are a little bigger.
Nice! That sounds like it could bring down anything smaller than a T-Rex.
Well I certanly hope he did not use an evil LEAD bullet.
.
I think they are considered Omnivores....
No. Polar bears are larger than grizzlies or even the Kodiak Brown.
No
Grizzlies and Polars are both types of Brown Bear. Same species.
"I was about 20 or 25 metres [22 to 27 yards] from the bear and it had Sebastian in its mouth, I was very worried I did not want to hit Sebastian as well," said Mr Fjeld. "That would have been a really bad day for him.
Ya think?
They are always hungry, even when they are sick and dying.
A polar bear is a very dangerous animal. And it doesn’t look it.They will track a man from 30 miles away on scent alone, and quietly get within 100 yards and then pull the old teddy bear act.
When they get within 50 yards, you are toast, or rather tartar.Unless you have a rifle of heavy caliber pistol. An axe might do if you know how to use it.
Because polar bears have such a keen sense of smell, they are an unseen danger, until the last few moments.
so the only way you can tell them apart is because the polar bears are bigger?
Polar bears are evolved from Brown Bears but are a different species.
Brown (Grizzly) - Ursus arctos
Polar - Ursus maritimus
http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=bears.main
There have been hybrids found in the wild of mixed genetics between the two.
Unless the bear chomps the shotgun in half, as in the story. Ma Duce. Very comforting sound.
Well.....that, and polar bears don't poop in the woods.
Ah, thank you.
Point conceded. (Although technically that makes them parasites because they eat their prey in units of less than one)...
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