Black bear charges at woman when she lets her dog out, Washington officials say
A black bear charged at a woman when she let her dog outside, sending her to a hospital, Washington wildlife officials said.
The woman let her dog out around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, in Leavenworth, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release.
A female black bear charged at her, causing her to suffer non-life-threatening injuries, the agency said.
She was at a hospital in Wenatchee as of Saturday, officials said.
Wildlife officers then searched for the bear with a Karelian bear dog and killed the animal near the woman’s home, officials said. Two 9-month-old cubs were also taken to a PAWS rehabilitation facility.
A fatal black bear attack in Washington was last recorded in 1974, according to the wildlife agency. In addition to this most recent case, there have been 19 other “human-black bear encounters that resulted in a documented injury.”
There are an estimated 20,000 black bears in Washington.
Leavenworth is a popular tourist city in the Cascades, about 135 miles east of Seattle.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. Bears in most attacks are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
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