Janice R. Andrews
People in Wisconsin are calling a 12-year-old boy a hero after he saved his father’s life from a black bear attack. Ryan Beierman, 43, and his son Owen were shooting near their home in western Wisconsin on September 6 when they saw a bear that was hurt. Ryan said the bear was getting ready to pounce when it charged at him and knocked him down.
Owen moved quickly while Ryan fought the 200-pound bear. The boy killed the bear with his shooting gun, which kept his dad from getting hurt more. Ryan said this about his son: “Owen was a hero.” That bear was killed by a gunshot right on top of me.
Ryan got hurt in a number of ways, including a cut on his face and holes in his arm and leg. For 23 stitches in his cheek and more on his arm, he was hurt. Ryan was very proud of Owen’s bravery during the attack, even though the event had clearly left the young boy shaken.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said it was okay to hunt. After the scary event, Ryan told his wife that he might not go bear shooting anymore.
