In a remarkable act of bravery, a 12-year-old boy from Wisconsin saved his father from a life-threatening encounter with a 200-pound black bear. Owen Beierman came to the rescue of his 43-year-old father, Ryan Beierman, who was being brutally attacked by the bear near their family cabin in western Wisconsin.
Ryan Beierman recounted the harrowing experience, explaining how he was pinned to the ground, with the bear biting his face. He was left with severe injuries, including a significant scar on his face and wounds on his arms and legs. He praised his son’s courage, stating, “Owen was a hero. He shot that bear and killed it on top of me.”
The father and son had taken a break from their usual routines to embark on a hunting trip. Earlier in the day, Owen had shot the bear, which then fled, injured. Later, under the cover of darkness, they encountered the wounded bear again, this time ready to attack.
Ryan Beierman described the bear’s aggressive stance, likening it to a cat ready to pounce. The bear charged at him, knocking him down. In the ensuing struggle, Ryan attempted to scare the bear away with his sidearm, but his efforts were in vain. He was knocked onto his back, and the bear continued its attack.
As the bear lunged at his head, Ryan tried to block the attack with his arm. He recalled the terrifying moment when he felt the bear’s bite and heard a crunch. He initially thought his arm was broken, but it was punctured. Despite his efforts, the bear continued its attack.
In the midst of this life-threatening situation, Ryan saw the flash from his son’s rifle. Owen’s shot hit the bear, knocking it off his father. Ryan described the aftermath of the attack, with his face covered in blood and his cheek sliced open.
Their neighbors came to their aid following the incident, with one neighbor preparing the bear and another driving the father and son to the hospital. Ryan received 23 stitches to reattach his cheek and had multiple puncture wounds on his arm and leg treated.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirmed the incident, stating that the father-son hunting trip was legal. Despite the traumatic experience, Ryan expressed pride in his son’s bravery, though he admitted that Owen was understandably shaken after the incident.
After initially vowing to give up bear hunting, Ryan is now reconsidering. He acknowledged that his wife might have something to say about his decision, describing the entire ordeal as a “wild ride” and a “hell of a night.”