Caribou Hunter Discusses Harrowing North Slope Bear Attack

As seen in the video above (warning for graphic injuries) shows, a hunter from Washing

ton state survived a terrifying bear attack on Alaska’s North Slope. Here are additional details from Alaska’s News Source:

“I’m very thankful to be alive,” Nicoara said. “Glad to have my eyesight and the use of all my limbs. God is very good.”

On Thursday, four days into their hunting trip, Nicoara told Alaska’s News Source he and his cousin were aiming to find a herd of caribou they saw in the distance. The two of them were climbing up the edge of a canyon on a steep hill when he noticed bushes above them starting to move.

“I don’t know if I said it or thought it, but I was like, ‘caribou,’ and I turned around to my right and there was a bear just running at probably 15–20 feet straight toward me,” Nicoara said. “It was growling, its mouth was open and it was just running full speed.”

Nicoara told Alaska’s News Source he was thrown backwards and rolled down the hill, as the bear began biting and scratching him.