A San Diego man is recovering after surviving a grizzly bear attack while hiking in Montana\u2019s Glacier National Park, an encounter he says he was fortunate to escape with his life.<\/p>\n
Daniel Crago, an avid outdoorsman, was hiking along the Grinnell Glacier Trail on May 28 during what was supposed to be the final day of a weeklong vacation filled with outdoor adventures.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy love for nature kind of started when I was young,\u201d Crago said.<\/p>\n
After more than 20 miles of hiking throughout the week, Crago was nearing the end of his trip with his friend when he encountered a bear cub near the trail.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething catches my attention off to the left. I look over and it was a smaller cub,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
Moments later, he spotted a larger grizzly bear nearby.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo more than 15 feet above on the hill and on the same snow patch was a larger grizzly bear,\u201d Crago said.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the danger, he tried to follow the standard guidance for bear encounters.<\/p>\n
\u201cPanic set in but I tried to stay calm and do as you\u2019re told and taught to do when you see a bear, just alert the bear, let them know you\u2019re there so you don\u2019t frighten them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The situation escalated almost immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as we made eye contact, it charged at me,\u201d Crago said. \u201cIt took kind of two steps and leaped at me, open arms and a roar. I threw my arm up in self-defense to protect my face, and thankfully that\u2019s what it bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The attack unfolded in seconds, but the experience left a lasting impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as it started running at me, the thought of \u2018this is it\u2019 went through my mind,\u201d Crago said, becoming emotional as he recounted the moment.<\/p>\n
The bear dragged him approximately 20 feet before leaving him in the snow.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, two nearby hikers came to his aid. One of them was a doctor, who immediately began providing medical assistance until emergency responders arrived.<\/p>\n
Crago was airlifted to a hospital, where he has undergone multiple surgeries and faces at least one more procedure as he continues his recovery.<\/p>\n
The injuries were severe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThankfully it missed the major artery, missed the major nerves in the arm so I can still move my fingers a little bit, can still feel all of them,\u201d Crago said. \u201cBut the forearm was completely open, and both bones completely broken. There was some bone loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the physical and emotional trauma, Crago says he is lucky to be alive. The encounter has also not diminished his appreciation for the outdoors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still love the outdoors, and it\u2019s their environment and we\u2019re lucky to share it,\u201d Crago said.<\/p>\n
According to research published in the scientific journal Nature,<\/a> most people survive grizzly bear attacks, with a little more than 14 percent proving fatal. Still, Crago considers himself fortunate to be alive and optimistic that he will eventually make a full recovery.<\/p>\n A fundraiser set up to help cover the cost of his surgeries has nearly reached its goal. Crago has said that any money raised beyond what is needed for his medical expenses will be donated to the National Park Service.<\/p>\n