B. C. woman knew her husband could handle bear
When Niki Traverse went to bed Saturday night, the Kimberley, B. C., mother did what anyone would do on a hot August evening — she opened the windows to let in some air.
But at 4: 30 a. m. Sunday, she discovered that was a fateful mistake — at least for the giant male grizzly who burst through the screen and into their cupboard.
She spoke with the National Post’s Sarah Boesveld.
Q You were the first to wake up to the sound of your dog barking.
A He was going crazy, barking his head off. So I got up to see what was going on. My husband was like, ‘ Don’t let him out! Don’t let him out! There’s a bear or cougars or coyotes outside!’
Q You thought that was true?
A We live out in the bush, so guaranteed. I wanted to make sure the door was locked. Then I walked to the front door and the bear was right there at that entryway. He didn’t see me, but I’d seen him. I didn’t turn lights on or anything, but his head was in the cupboard, eating cat food and dog food. So obviously he was a very sick bear and he’d been into that stuff before, because he walked right past the garbage. It was very fast. He went at my husband, my husband shot him once and he was still coming forward … my husband reloaded and he moved four to six feet closer to my husband.
Q What were you thinking?
A I’m thinking, ‘ My husband’s going to get the job done.’
Q You weren’t thinking, ‘ This is it, we’re going to die?’
A I had total confidence in my husband. It was certain death for the bear, for sure. We didn’t know it was a bear, until Mark turned the light on and he just started screaming, ‘ It’s a f--- ing grizzly! It’s a f--- ing grizzly! Get back! Get back!’
Q How big was the bear?
A It took three grown men and my son to move it. It was between 10 and 15 years old, the conservation officer said — you could tell by the size and the staining on the teeth. At least between 400 and 600 pounds. It was very tall — it totally could have killed us — but it was very skinny and malnourished because it wasn’t eating enough.
Q What are the chances, right?
A Last night I couldn’t sleep and this happened at 4: 30 the morning before. I was still awake at 2 a. m. Monday morning. I was getting up checking windows, checking doors. My husband and my son were fast asleep — nothing fazed them.
Q I read you don’t eat the meat, but you’re glad you have a hunter for a husband.
A I would be dead. If I had turned on the light, I don’t think I’d be here right now.
Q So this dead bear was just sitting in your kitchen ...
A: It took till 7- 7: 30 a. m. for the officer to show up — we had to have it in the kitchen on the floor for a couple of hours.
Q Any advice to others living out in the woods? Keep those windows shut?
A I’ve lived here a long time — I’m 46 — I’ve never worried that a bear’s going to come in. When it’s hot, I leave my windows open. It’s a small community — what’s going to happen? Well, lots can happen! I’m never leaving my windows open again. If I’m going to bed, they’re closed.
Q Even if it’s stifling.
A I have an air conditioner in my bedroom. The rest of the house can suffer.