Black bear attacks 69-year-old woman; officials seek to euthanize animal
Authorities said they are searching for a black bear who attacked a 69-year-old woman in Wisconsin, severely injuring her.
The victim, who had not been publicly identified, reported the attack near Comstock to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) around 2 p.m. on July 12, the agency said in a news release, adding she "was able to call 911 and was taken to a local hospital for treatment" with severe injuries.
Wisconsin DNR said in the news release posted July 13 the victim's condition was unknown. A DNR spokesperson told Paste BN July 14 the attack occurred at a rural residence near the town of Comstock in Barron County, about 310 miles north of Milwaukee.
Multiple agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and officers from Barron County responded to the 911 call and began searching for the bear.
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'The goal is to euthanize the bear'
Authorities attempted to track the bear with the aid of a trained dog. While they were able to locate a cub in a tree, "indicating this involved a sow and cub," the search for the second bear was eventually "unsuccessful," officials said.
DNR said July 13 efforts to capture the bear were "ongoing," with "several bear traps" set up at the scene.
"The goal is to euthanize the bear and assess its condition," the agency said, adding it is not yet known why the attack occurred.
An investigation into all of the details surrounding the time of the attack remains ongoing, DNR spokesperson Molly Meister told Paste BN over email July 14, adding "we have no additional details to share at this time."
Living with bears in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is home to an estimated 24,000 bears and while no human fatalities have been recorded in the state's history, incidents of black bears attacking or killing humans do occur even if they "are very rare," DNR said.
"Black bears are generally secretive, not aggressive and tend to avoid humans as much as possible but bears are sometimes known to be aggressive if cubs are present and feel threatened," DNR said.
What to do in a bear encounter
Wisconsin DNR recommends keeping the following tips in mind to keep bears away from property and stay safe in a bear encounter:
- Minimize food attractants around your residence or camps.
- Use bird feeders only in the wintertime and bring them in at night so they are inaccessible to bears. Deter the animals by hanging feeders 10 feet from the ground and five feet out from any surface. If a bear manages to find a feeder, remove it immediately.
- Keep garbage cans secured, clean and inside sheds. Do not leave loose garbage around.
- Do not leave pet food outside.
- Keep grills clean and secure.
- If you encounter a bear in your yard or around your home, place yourself in a secure area so the bear has a clear escape path and make a lot of noise by yelling, honking a car horn or banging pots and pans.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.