A GoFundMe page has been set up for Ryan Arsenault, the Campbell River man who was attacked by a grizzly bear March 22 (access the page by clicking here).
Arsenault is an employee of Capacity Forest Management and was working at Draney Bay about 100 kilometres north of Port Hardy where he was attacked by the bear. Arsenault's co-workers provided immediate assistance to him on the scene.
Company president Corby Lamb said it was a bear that employees were aware of but the attack was “one of those unexpected events.” Bears are currently awaking from their winter hibernation.
While Arsenault’s co-workers were providing him with first aid after the initial attack, the bear came back for a second time.
Ryan Arsenault
Conservation officers say the crew did what they needed to, carrying pepper spray and yelling at the bear in an effort to chase him off.
Arsenault underwent surgeries in a Victoria hospital to repair a broken leg and severe lacerations.
In the meantime, the Ministry of the Environment has said the bear was acting in a defensive manner and it will not be destroyed. Conservation officers were at the scene on Thursday to assess the situation.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than $7,000 had been raised from the GoFundMe page.
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