Watch CBS News

Man Survives Grizzly Attack By Shoving Arm Down Bear's Throat

CHOTEAU, Mont. (CBS4) - A man hunting in Montana was able to fend off a bear using a tip given to him by his grandmother.

Chase Dellwo, 26, was bow hunting with his brother near Choteau, Montana Saturday morning when he stumbled onto a sleeping grizzly bear, the Great Falls Tribune reports.

The bear was spooked, and charged Dellwo, knocking him off his feet. It bit down on his head, roared "the loudest roar I have ever heard," Dellwo said, and paused. Dellwo managed to sit up before the bear came back and bit his right leg.

When the bear came back again, Dellwo said he recalled a tip from his grandmother.

"I remembered an article that my grandmother gave me a long time ago that said large animals have bad gag reflexes. So I shoved my right arm down his throat," Dellwo said.

It worked. He walked out, bloodied and disoriented, to find his brother and head to the hospital.

Dellwo suffered a head injury, a swollen left eye, and deep puncture wounds on his right leg. He has several hundred stitches and staples.

"I want everyone to know that it wasn't the bear's fault, he was as scared as I was," said Dellwo.

Dellwo was not carrying bear spray, and said the windy and rainy conditions likely caused him and the bear to be so surprised. His suggestion for others: carry bear spray.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.