12-Year-Old Boy Saves Father from Bear Attack in Wisconsin
On September 6, a 12-year-old boy, Owen Beierman, became a local hero after he shot a 200-pound black bear that was attacking his father, Ryan Beierman, during a hunting trip in western Wisconsin. The incident occurred near their hunting cabin when Ryan, 43, had previously wounded the bear earlier in the day. The pair had been tracking the bear when it suddenly charged at Ryan, pinning him to the ground.
A Life-or-Death Struggle
Ryan described the terrifying moment when the bear lunged at him, recalling its hot breath and the sharp pain of its bites on his forehead, arm, and leg. "The bear was fighting for its life, and I was fighting for mine," he stated. In a desperate struggle that lasted about 45 seconds, Ryan attempted to fend off the bear while Owen, witnessing the attack, quickly took action to protect his father. He fired a single shot from his rifle, hitting the bear fatally and ending the attack.
Legal and Safe Hunting Practices
Dustin Gabrielson, a conservation officer with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, confirmed that the hunting practices of the Beierman family were legal. Both father and son were transported to the hospital, where Ryan received multiple stitches for his injuries, including 23 for a severe laceration on his cheek. Fortunately, Owen emerged unscathed, having bravely intervened in a life-threatening situation.
