B.C. polygamist’s son survives ‘Revenant’-like grizzly bear attack

WARNING: Graphic images. Reader discretion is advised.

It was like a scene out of The Revenant.

Jake Blackmore, the son of B.C. polygamist leader Winston Blackmore, was out hunting for elk with his son Jeron in the forests near Fernie.

Then a grizzly bear came for him.

Coverage of grizzly bears on Globalnews.ca:

1:42 Province ends controversial grizzly bear trophy hunt

• Province ends controversial grizzly bear trophy hunt
• B.C. man fights grizzly bear
• ‘The Grizzly Truth’ documentary looks at controversial bear hunt in B.C.
• Not your average bear. Video captures grizzly diving for salmon near Knight Inlet, B.C.
• Grizzly bears appear for the first time on Vancouver Island

Previous Video

Next Video

“I heard a noise just over my shoulder and I looked around to see the mother bear coming from my left at full speed,” Jake told Global News.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

He tried to fight the bear off, but then the animal bit his leg.

“She got me right on the inside of my leg and shook me basically like I was a rag doll,” Jake said.

View image in full screen

Jake managed to fire a shot at the bear from his hip.

His son Jeron heard it from a distance.

“I heard a gunshot and was like, oh dang, you best be getting back to Dad,” he said.

READ MORE: Woman that encountered grizzly in Calgary park credits dog with saving her life

But Jake credited a bear cub with saving him.

“I believe that her having a baby with her is what gave me the chance,” he said.

“I don’t think this was a bad bear that we had an encounter with. She had her baby and I’m sure she was trying to protect it.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "I don't think this was a bad bear that we had an encounter with. She had her baby and I'm sure she was trying to protect it."

Jake received 28 stitches. Conservation officers decided not to destroy the bear, but said they would monitor the animal until it went into hibernation.

But the next time they go hunting, Jake and Jeron will be careful to scout the area before they head too deep into the forest.