In an incident that left him fighting for his life, Anthony Blasioli vividly recalls the terrifying moment when a bear attacked him on a Banner Forest Heritage Park trail in Port Orchard, WA. The 51-year-old software developer for Boeing had been enjoying a mountain bike ride with his two dogs when the unexpected encounter unfolded.

Blasioli recounted that his dogs barked a warning, prompting him to dismount from his bike, assuming other riders or horses were approaching. But, before he could react, a bear appeared.

“The bear came up the trail and charged straight at me,” said Blasioli. “I stepped back… and fell. Then he approached me and started attacking.”

The black male bear, standing approximately as tall as a man, tore through Blasioli’s bike helmet and tore off a piece of his ear. As a result, he suffered bites and claw marks on his face, chest, neck, shoulders, and ribs. Without his bike helmet, it could have been a lot worse.

At this critical moment, Blasioli found himself praying for his life.

“Suddenly, I thought I was going to die,” he shared. “I asked God, pleading that I didn’t want to die. Miraculously, the bear momentarily backed off.”

Although Blasioli, a lapsed Catholic, stated that this experience might not lead him back to the church, it reaffirmed his faith.

“I had asked for a clear sign, and that’s exactly what I received,” he said.

After the momentary respite, the bear turned its attention back to Blasioli, who quickly mounted his bike and fled, leaving his two German shorthaired pointers behind.

“I felt guilty leaving them behind, but it was a matter of life or death,” he explained.

Fortunately, he encountered two other bikers at the trailhead, who immediately called 911 for help.

“I consider myself fortunate not to have lost my nose or suffered more severe facial injuries,” he remarked.

Blasioli spent nearly a week in the intensive care unit at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, WA, with doctors cautioning him that he might lose his arm at one point.

“He’s truly lucky to be alive,” stated Gale Robinette, a hospital spokesperson.

During Blasioli’s hospitalization, a friend from Seattle tirelessly searched for his dogs, Oak and Pine, and successfully located them in the park.

According to Fish and Wildlife officer Jason Czebotar, unprovoked attacks like the one on Blasioli are exceedingly rare, despite a healthy bear population in South Kitsap and North Mason counties.

As a precautionary measure, Czebotar urged people to hike and bike in groups and carry noise-making devices, such as whistles.

He also emphasized that he had used his bike as a shield to fend off the bear and credited his helmet with saving him from more severe injuries. Although most of his ear was torn off, he considers himself fortunate to be alive, recognizing that his life was ultimately the most important outcome.

While incidents of bears attacking mountain bikers are relatively uncommon, this unsettling incident serves as a reminder of the importance of wearing a helmet for protection and reinforces the importance of taking safety precautions while engaging in outdoor activities.

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