Warning: This article contains graphic images and videos that some readers may find distressing.
While on his honeymoon, Shayne Burke faced a near-fatal confrontation with a mother grizzly bear, leading him to record a haunting message for his family.
Few people can claim to have survived a bear attack. Since the beginning of the 21st century, 38 fatalities have been recorded due to grizzly attacks in North America. Six of these occurred in Wyoming, US, where the 36-year-old Burke, visiting with his wife Chloe, encountered a 300-pound brown bear on May 19 of last year.
However, unlike many, Burke managed to escape with his life. Despite being severely mauled and thrown around, he astonishingly required only one day in the hospital before being discharged.
The bear failed to hit any of the army reservist’s arteries, which Burke acknowledges as ‘super, super fortunate.’ Despite suffering a broken shoulder and numerous deep wounds, they miraculously weren’t infected as he crawled away.
The couple’s honeymoon plans were cut short just eight days into their trip, which was initially intended to include a tour of the national parks in the western US.
Burke, an employee of the US Department of Defense, explained to UNILAD: “I was up in the Tetons on my honeymoon, but it was more like an adventure trip – a three-week trip that my wife and I were on.”
“We had researched where to find a great gray owl, a species I’d never seen in the wild. Our search led us to Signal Mountain.”
As a bird enthusiast, Burke recounted how his wife returned to the car after a short walk, while he continued on. After about an hour, he decided to head back to meet her.
He noticed that by cutting through the woods, he could save time instead of circling back along the trail.
“I opted to just, you know, beeline through the woods,” he said. “I was making noise, trying to avoid a bear encounter, but I was moving really fast.”
“Unfortunately, I stumbled upon a grizzly cub. It ran away, and I got ready with my bear spray, anticipating the mother’s presence.”
“The mother appeared, only 15 feet away. Everything happened quickly.”
Following the attack, Burke recorded a message for his loved ones. You can watch it here:
Discussing the terrifying encounter, Burke said: “When I saw her, she was almost on top of me. I reacted defensively, dropping to the ground and trying to play dead.”
“She tackled me, broke my shoulder, and bit my legs, but never tore chunks from me.”
“When she went for my head, she bit the bear spray and my arm, which stopped the attack because the can exploded.”
Burke continued: “The spray exploded over her and me. She ran toward the road, which I was heading to, so I ran the opposite way.”
“I retreated further into the woods, even though the attack happened just 500 yards from the road, and I ran back up the mountain, navigating obstacles.”
The National Park Service (NPS) didn’t track the bear but took DNA swabs to determine if it had attacked before. Results are still pending.
Burke admits he was ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ and the bear was acting naturally, defending her cub. The NPS will ‘let the bear be a bear.’
When asked about surviving a bear attack, Burke emphasized two key factors: “Researching risks and understanding how to react, as national parks provide guidance.”
“Having a deterrent, even if not used traditionally, contributed to my survival,” he added.
Burke also highlighted the importance of basic first aid knowledge, as “you are your first responder.”
For areas where grizzlies are common, the NPS advises how to react during an attack.
“Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Lay flat on your stomach, and spread your legs apart. Keep your pack on, it will help protect you during an attack.”
“Stay still and don’t make any noise – you’re trying to convince the bear that you aren’t a threat.”
If a bear acts predatory, the guidance changes: “Fight back with everything you have.”
“How I Survived” is a UNILAD series sharing survivor stories.