Massachusetts man attacked by bear during honeymoon speaks out

Shayne Burke was on his honeymoon in Wyoming with his wife when a mother bear and her cub attacked him, causing serious injuries.

May 30, 2024, 3:05 p.m. EDT | Updated May 30, 2024, 3:09 p.m. EDT

MASSACHUSETTS – A 35-year-old Massachusetts man, veteran and brain tumor survivor, is speaking out for the first time since he was attacked by a 400-pound grizzly bear in Wyoming earlier this month.

Shayne Patrick Burke was on his honeymoon with his wife, Chloe, on the afternoon of the May 19 attack. During that time, Shayne briefly left his wife’s side to search for a specific owl he was looking for, he told ABC News in an exclusive interview. shared online on Thursday.

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As the bear approached and Burke realized he didn’t have enough time to arm himself with the bear spray he was carrying, Burke told the outlet he “ducked and took cover.”

But the mother bear, who was with her cub, was already in attack mode.

“She bit both my legs, lifted me up and threw me around,” Burke said. “She went for my head. But I had my hands clasped like that, protecting my arteries and my neck. She bit down and caught my left wrist and right hand. I heard a pop and at that moment I thought in my head, Okay, she’s in my skull.”

The National Park Service said the attack occurred near Signal Mountain Summit Road. Burke was given emergency medical treatment at the scene and then flown by helicopter to an ambulance and taken to the hospital.

After escaping over a hill, Burke called his wife and told her that he had been attacked but was “not yet aware of the exact damage.”

Chloe Burke told ABC News she “hung up not knowing if that was the last time I had spoken to my husband.”

After rangers found him, Burke asked that the bear’s life be spared because “she was only defending her cub.” They agreed.

Watch the interview on ABC News.

To prevent bear attacks, the National Park Service recommends that visitors:

• Never leave your food unattended unless it is properly secured.
• Keep the camp clean and follow all food storage regulations. Store all attractants, including coolers, cooking utensils, pet food, and toiletries, in a bear-proof food cabinet (such as a bear box) or a vehicle with solid sides and closed windows.
• Store your trash properly until you can dispose of it in a bear-proof dumpster.
• Do not eat or cook in your tent and never store food or other strong-smelling items in your tent.
• Please respect all wildlife restricted areas.
• If you see a bear, please give it space. Always stay at least 100 meters away. If you want to observe or photograph the bear, use a spotting scope, binoculars or a telephoto lens. Park in designated areas and never block traffic lanes. Follow the instructions of staff in locations where bears are sighted.

And when you explore the hinterland:

• Be alert and pay attention to your surroundings.
• Make noise, especially in places with limited visibility or when sound is muffled (e.g. near streams or when it is windy).
• Carry bear spray with you, know how to use it, and keep it handy.
• Hike in groups of three or more people.
• Don’t run away. If you encounter a bear, back away slowly.