Warning: Graphic Content
An American hunter who impaled a black bear in Canada with a custom-made spear before leaving the animal to die has disgusted wildlife and animal activists — who charged the killing as inhumane.
Josh Bowmar — a physical trainer from Ohio — was on a hunting trip in an area near Edmonton, Alberta, in May when he hurled a spear fashioned with a camera about 40 feet into a bear rummaging for food in a trash can.
Bowmar didn’t retrieve the animal’s body from the woods until the following day because it was dark and raining, he told the CBC — but claimed the bear had “died immediately.” Bowmar told the Edmonton Journal he eats every animal he hunts.
After Bowman posted the YouTube footage of the hunt and his post-kill exclamation of delight — during which he cradles the bear’s head in his hands while laughing –- Alberta’s Ministry of Environment and Parks said they would introduce a ban on spear hunting.
“The type of archaic hunting seen in the recently posted video of a hunter spearing a black bear, allegedly in Alberta, is unacceptable,” the ministry told The Washington Post.
“In the meantime, we have asked Fish and Wildlife officers to investigate this incident to determine if charges are warranted under existing laws.”
Scores of outraged Twitter users echoed Alberta’s disdain for the incident and several criticized Bowmar’s claim that the bear died a quick and painless death.
“@AlbertaSPCA Charges? Against Josh Bowmar for spearing black bear and leaving for 20 hours to die a slow death,” tweeted Susan Dyment.
“Josh Bowmar, a grown man falling to his knees in excitement at spearing a bear, is despicable,” tweeted Jinho Cho.
Others rushed to support Bowmar and his wife and hunting partner Sarah after the video — which was made private after the couple received death threats — surfaced online.
Bowmar’s wife killed another bear with a bow and arrow the day before her husband’s controversial kill.
“ICYMI: Josh Bowmar spears a bear on the ground. Awesome video!,” tweeted Sarah LiveLoveHunt.
“@joerogan this guy has #bearballs https://youtu.be/vVR4wFtRg74 via @youtube,” wrote Mr.Moniyaw.
Warning: Graphic Content
