Rare Bear Attack Results In Severe Injuries For Wisconsin Woman

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources partners with the USDA's Wildlife Services staff to respond to bear complaints throughout the state.

According to the DNR, USDA Wildlife Services responds to 500-600 nuisance bear complaints annually. Between 70-80% of complaints are resolved by providing recommendations to the complainant, which most often involves the removal of an attractant. Trapping and relocation of bears is the primary abatement option when direct control is needed.

Black Bears are generally not aggressive and avoid humans as much as possible. Incidents of black bears attacking or killing humans are very rare, but do occur across the country.

Wisconsin is home to an estimated 24,000 bears, and while uncommon, there have been reports of bear attacks in the state. To date, there have been no reports of human fatalities resulting from encounters with wild black bears in Wisconsin.

However, a scary bear encounter recently took place in Wisconsin that left a 69-year-old woman with severe injuries, and the DNR announced it was in the process of investigating.

Get our free mobile app

Bear Attack Reported In Wisconsin's Barron County

According to the DNR, around 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, a 69-year-old woman reported she had been attacked by a bear near the town of Comstock, which is located in Barron County.

Despite suffering severe injuries, the victim was able to call 911, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The victim's condition remains unknown as of early Monday afternoon.

Officers from Barron County and the city of Cumberland initially responded to the 911 call. Local DNR wardens and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services staff also responded to the incident. Upon arrival, they began looking for the bear, and at that time, they located a cub in a tree, indicating this involved a sow, which is an adult female bear, and a cub.

That's worth noting because, as mentioned above, while black bears are generally secretive, not aggressive, and tend to avoid humans as much as possible, they are sometimes known to be aggressive if cubs are present and feel threatened.

However, the DNR stresses that the exact reason the attack occurred is currently unknown, and DNR wardens are continuing to investigate the incident to learn more details and a possible cause.

DNR wardens and USDA Wildlife Services staff attempted to track the bear with the aid of a trained bear hound dog, but the search was unsuccessful.

SEE NOW: People In Wisconsin Now Being Warned Not To Travel To These Destinations

Efforts to capture the bear are ongoing. Several bear traps have been set at the scene. The goal is to euthanize the bear and assess its condition.

Best Practices In Bear Country

The Wisconsin DNR encourages residents to follow these tips to stay safe should they encounter a bear.

Minimize food attractants around your residence or camps.

• Bird feeders should be only used in the wintertime or brought in at night and made inaccessible to bears. Deter bears by hanging feeders 10 feet from the ground and five feet out from any surface. If a bear does find the feeder, remove it immediately.
• Keep garbage cans secured, clean, and inside sheds if possible. 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.
• Make a lot of noise by yelling, honking a car horn, or banging pots and pans.
• Consider installing motion-activated water sprinklers, lights, or alarms.

If you encounter a bear while hiking, hunting, or camping:

• Never approach a bear.
• Do not run.
• Do not lie down or play dead.
• Talk to the bear or start shouting if it doesn’t leave.
• Raise your arms above your head and wave them to appear larger than you are.
• Slowly back away and don’t turn your back on the bear.
• Always leave an escape route for the bear.
• Fight back if attacked.

SEE NOW: Deadliest Creature On Earth Now In Wisconsin In Staggering Numbers