Mauling Survivor: ''I thought I was going to die!”

The story….

[“A Port Orchard man was fighting off a black bear that mauled him in a Kitsap County park two weeks ago.

"I was upside down and I actually remember kicking him in the face a little bit. It was, like, surreal. You don't understand this is happening. I really thought I was going to die, that this was it," Anthony Blasioli told reporters assembled at the trail head where the attack happened. Blasioli, 51, said he on a mountain bike ride with his two dogs when a black bear suddenly appeared and came right at him.

"And then he came on top of me and started eating. He bit right through the helmet and got my ear, and I had my lip hanging out. (I was) lucky I didn't lose my nose and face," Blasioli said.”]

My response…

I live less very close to this park. I have walked and hiked with my livestock and children in the Banner Forest, the sight of the attack, many times. This bear and her cubs challenged me and my livestock on my property last year. Authorities attempted to trap and re-locate her and her cubs on my property with no success. She and her cubs were discovered bedding down over night less than 15 yards from our bedroom windows. She has been a regular for about 5 years with no known problems. We would see her walking down driveways and across fields. The time of her challenge to me, she came down by the house and was absolutely un-afraid. She is over 300lbs. She needs to be trapped and harvested. Her cubs, 2+ year olds now are about 160lb eating machines. She would not leave. One of my animals, a 140lb oversized large nubian wheather, was mauled, I believe by one of the cubs. Taking half an ear off and tearing at his rectum. You want this bear to cuddle with? I think you should bring your tent and I will set you up for a little one on one time! My 4YO and 6YO are at risk every moment they are outside. I think these animals are absolutely beautiful. But I think my children are too. Maybe even a little more than this bear…

The Big Guy