Joe Pendry, a 63-year-old elk hunter from British Columbia, died on October 25, 2025, nearly a month after fighting off a mother grizzly bear in one of the most harrowing wildlife encounters in recent East Kootenay history.
The tragedy unfolded in two acts: first, the brutal October 2 attack near Fort Steele that left him severely injured, and then an unexpected medical complication that doctors believe was a blood clot leading to cardiac arrest.
His wife, Janice Pendry, told reporters her husband had been walking the hospital halls and laughing with family just hours before his sudden death. The cruel twist of fate shocked everyone who had watched Joe’s remarkable initial survival.
The Attack That Started It All
On October 2, Pendry ventured into the wilderness near Fort Steele, a rural area northeast of Cranbrook in southeastern British Columbia.
He was doing what he loved most: hunting elk in the vast mountain terrain he knew so well. An experienced outdoorsman and former hunting guide, Pendry understood the risks of sharing the forest with grizzly bears.
That morning, he used elk calls to attract his quarry.
Those same calls drew the attention of a mother grizzly with two cubs.
Conservation officers later explained that the bear likely perceived the sounds as a potential threat to her young.
When the sow charged, Pendry managed to fire a single shot in self-defense, hitting the bear in the leg. But the animal didn’t stop. The 400-pound predator kept coming, closing the distance in seconds.
A Boxer’s Instinct Kicks In
What happened next would define Joe Pendry’s final chapter.
Drawing on his background as a former boxer, he fought back with everything he had.
When the grizzly clamped its massive jaws around his head, Pendry didn’t freeze. He punched the bear repeatedly and, in a desperate act of survival, even bit the animal’s ear.
The injuries he sustained were catastrophic:
- Severe lacerations to his lips and partial scalp removal
- One finger completely lost
- Broken nose and fractured cheekbones
- Two broken arms
- Multiple fractured ribs
- Extensive head and facial trauma
Despite these horrific wounds, Pendry’s fighting spirit prevailed. He drove the bear off and, remarkably, still had the presence of mind to call 911 and his son. He told emergency responders exactly where to find him in the vast wilderness.
His survival depended on two critical factors: his physical ability to fight and the fact he had cell phone service in that remote location.
The Medical Battle Begins
Emergency services airlifted Pendry to Kelowna General Hospital, where surgeons performed multiple operations.
Over the following weeks, he underwent four major surgeries, including facial reconstruction and a skin graft to repair his damaged scalp. Medical staff worked tirelessly to address his extensive injuries.
Doctors moved him from intensive care to the trauma ward after initial signs of progress. Family members remained optimistic.
Janice described how her husband had recently been able to walk around the hospital. He was joking with relatives, showing the same toughness that helped him survive the attack.
That’s why his death on Saturday morning, October 25, came as such a devastating surprise. Medical professionals believe a blood clot formed somewhere in his body, likely as a complication from his injuries or the extensive surgeries. When it traveled to a vital area, it caused cardiac arrest.
Blood clots are a known risk after major trauma and surgery, but they remain unpredictable and often fatal.
The Bear’s Fate
Meanwhile, conservation officers searched the area around Fort Steele for the grizzly. Initial efforts by foot and helicopter came up empty. Then, on October 17, officers responded to a report of a dead grizzly bear found in the woods near the attack site.
DNA analysis confirmed it was the same animal that attacked Pendry.
According to Janice, authorities told her the bear died from sepsis, a severe blood infection. The single defensive shot Pendry fired had apparently wounded the bear seriously enough to cause a fatal infection.
The BC Conservation Officer Service noted that the mother bear had two cubs with her.
While their exact ages remained uncertain, experts believe the cubs were likely mature enough to survive on their own. Grizzly cubs typically stay with their mothers until around four years old, and these cubs appeared to be approaching independence.
Conservation officers determined the bear had acted defensively, not aggressively. She was protecting her young when she perceived Pendry’s elk calls as a threat.
This distinction matters in wildlife management, as defensive behavior is considered natural and doesn’t indicate a dangerous pattern.
Who Was Joe Pendry
Friends and family remembered Pendry as a man who truly belonged in the wilderness. He spent decades as a hunting guide, leading others through the same mountains where he would meet his fate. His knowledge of the backcountry was extensive, and he respected the wildlife that shared those spaces.
His boxing background shaped more than just his ability to fight off the bear. It gave him a mental toughness and refusal to give up that carried through his entire life. Those qualities showed themselves in his final battle, both against the bear and during his weeks in the hospital.
His family released a statement saying: “With heavy hearts and profound sadness, we share the passing of our beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother and Uncle. After fighting the ultimate fight with remarkable courage and strength, he has now found peace.”
Grizzly Bears in the East Kootenays
The East Kootenay region where Pendry was attacked represents one of British Columbia’s most concentrated grizzly bear habitats. Mark Hall, executive director of Wild Origins Canada and a Cranbrook resident, called the attack “one of the worst I’ve heard of” in the area.
The Columbia Valley has become what Hall describes as “a mecca for grizzly bears.” The region offers ideal conditions for these predators, including abundant kokanee salmon that run up the Kootenay River system. Good riparian habitat along waterways provides additional food sources and cover.
Here’s what the numbers tell us:
- Between 2010 and 2021, British Columbia recorded 104 grizzly bear attacks across the province
- The East Kootenays has a very high bear density, with 40 to over 50 bears per 1,000 square kilometers in some areas
- WildSafeBC reports that conservation officers handle 400 to 500 grizzly bear-related calls annually
- Despite the numbers, fatal grizzly attacks remain rare, with less than one occurring every five years in BC
The concentration of both bears and outdoor enthusiasts in the East Kootenays creates more opportunities for encounters, though most end without incident.
Understanding Bear Behavior
Pendry’s encounter illustrates the most common type of grizzly bear attack: defensive behavior. Mother bears with cubs represent the highest risk because they’re hardwired to eliminate any perceived threat to their young. When a sow sees, hears, or smells something she interprets as dangerous, she may charge without warning.
Elk calls can trigger this response because bears don’t immediately recognize the sound as human-made. In the critical seconds when a bear is assessing a situation, those calls might sound like another animal, a potential threat, or even wounded prey.
Wildlife experts emphasize that predatory attacks, where a bear hunts a human as food, are extremely rare. The vast majority of grizzly attacks are defensive and end quickly once the bear feels the threat has been neutralized.
Lessons for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Pendry’s story offers important reminders for anyone venturing into bear country. Even experienced outdoorsmen who follow safety protocols can find themselves in dangerous situations. That’s why preparation matters so much.
Key safety measures include:
- Always carry bear spray and know how to use it quickly
- Make noise while hiking to avoid surprising bears
- Be extra cautious in areas with cubs or fresh kills
- Carry a communication device with GPS capabilities
- Know your location and be able to describe it to emergency services
- Travel in groups when possible
- Stay alert and watch for signs of bear activity
If a defensive bear attacks, experts recommend playing dead by lying on your stomach with your hands protecting your neck. However, if the attack continues beyond two minutes or the bear seems to be treating you as prey, you’re better off fighting back aggressively, targeting the eyes and snout.
The Medical Risk No One Saw Coming
While Joe Pendry’s survival of the initial attack seemed miraculous, his death highlights a danger that trauma patients face even after leaving the emergency room. Blood clots, medically known as thromboembolisms, can form after serious injuries or major surgeries.
These clots can develop in the legs, arms, or other areas where blood flow has been disrupted. When a clot breaks free and travels through the bloodstream, it can lodge in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), heart, or brain, causing sudden death or serious complications.
Risk factors that increase clot formation include:
- Extended immobility during recovery
- Multiple fractures, especially in the arms or legs
- Major surgical procedures
- Significant tissue trauma
- Prolonged hospitalization
Doctors typically prescribe blood thinners and encourage early mobilization to reduce these risks. The fact that Pendry was walking around the hospital suggests his medical team was taking appropriate precautions. But even with the best care, some clots cannot be prevented or detected in time.
A Community Mourns
The Fort Steele and Cranbrook communities, where outdoor recreation forms a way of life, felt Pendry’s loss deeply. His death resonated with hunters, hikers, and others who understand the inherent risks of spending time in wild places.
Local residents expressed both grief for the Pendry family and recognition that encounters with wildlife remain an unavoidable reality in British Columbia’s backcountry. The incident sparked renewed conversations about bear safety and awareness without demonizing the animals that call the region home.
Friends described Pendry as someone who accepted the risks that came with his passion for hunting. He knew the mountains, respected the wildlife, and took reasonable precautions. Sometimes, despite all that, nature proves unpredictable.
The Bigger Picture
Joe Pendry’s death represents a convergence of two separate dangers: the immediate threat of a wildlife attack and the hidden medical complications that can follow severe trauma. His story serves as a sobering reminder that surviving the initial crisis doesn’t guarantee a full recovery.
For the hunting and outdoor recreation community, incidents like this one underscore the importance of preparation, awareness, and respect for wild animals. For the medical community, cases like Pendry’s highlight the ongoing challenges of managing trauma patients and preventing deadly complications.
The East Kootenays will continue to attract outdoor enthusiasts drawn by its natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Grizzly bears will continue to inhabit these mountains, raising cubs and defending their territory. And people like Joe Pendry will keep pursuing their passion for the wilderness, understanding but never dwelling on the risks.
In the end, that’s what made Pendry’s final weeks so remarkable. Even after being mauled by a grizzly bear, even with devastating injuries, he was laughing and joking with his family the night before he died. He faced death twice and met it with courage both times.