Bear Attacks Rise
Recent Black Bear Attacks Injure Four Across Colorado and Washington
Anonymous
Key Points
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Colorado wildlife officials said bears in their hyperphagia phase may consume roughly 20,000 calories a day before winter, intensifying their search for food and bringing them into areas where they are not usually seen.
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In the Durango attack, the bear reportedly ripped off the bedroom screen, opened the partially raised window, tore curtains from the wall and swiped the teenager’s abdomen; she hid beneath multiple blankets during the encounter.
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Investigators at Park Creek Campground found three claw marks and dirt in a paw impression, evidence officials used to support their conclusion that the camper’s puncture wound was caused by a black bear; the campground was then closed for the season.
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Camper Kathleen Baran said she punched the bear in the face to make it release her arm and disputed suggestions that food in her tent attracted it. “I’m very lucky because he could have easily just chomped down on my head,” she said.
Four people were injured in black bear encounters across Colorado and Washington over one weekend, as drought-driven food shortages push hungry bears into populated areas. Fox 13 Seattle reported that a man and child were attacked north of Lake Whatcom in Washington on Sunday evening, while Yahoo News documented two separate attacks in Colorado — one camper bitten through her tent near South Fork on Friday and a 17-year-old girl attacked in her Durango bedroom two days later. The incidents have brought Colorado's reported bear attacks this year to 10.
Bears are currently in hyperphagia, a pre-hibernation phase where they can consume roughly 20,000 calories a day before winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated that drought-driven food shortages have intensified their search for food, bringing them into areas where they are not usually seen. Officials urged residents to secure food, garbage, and pet supplies while warning people to back away from bears slowly and calmly, making themselves appear larger.
When did this happe n?
The seci c bears enc ounters occurred over one weeken d. Kathlee n Ba ran, a ca mpe r, was bitt en on the ar m th rou gh he r te nt at Park Creek Ca mpg rou nd near Sout h Fo rk, CO on Friday, Sep t embe r 12 around 5 :30 AM . Two days late r on Sun day, Sep tembe r 14 arou nd 2 :00 AM , a blac k bea r ente red a condo bed roo m in Du rang o and swa ped at a 17 -yea r-old girl. Tha t sam e Sun day eve ning, a blac k bea r atta cke d an adu lt man and a mino r child on pri vate res ide nti al pro per ty nor th of Lake Wha tcom , WA.
Wh at happ ene d to the cam per ?
Ka the lee n Bar an was bij tte n on the arm thr oug h her ten t wall whi le ca mping at Par k Cre ek Ca mpgr oun d near Sout hFo rk, Colo rad o on Fri day , Sep tem ber 12 aro und 5:30 AM . Th e expe rie nce d solo tra vel er pun che d the bea r in the jaw to fre e her arm . Colo rad o Parks and Wi ldl ife and inve sti gat ors fou nd thre e claw mar ks and dir t in a paw imp res sion in the tent , whi ch sup por ted thei r con clu sion tha t the bi te was cau sed by a bla ck bea r. Bar an dis pute d sug ges tio ns tha t foo d in her tent att rac ted the bear , say ing "I' m ver y luck y bec aus e he cou ld hav e eas ily jus t cho mpe d dow n on my hea d." She des cri bed the bit e fee ling lik e "a mot her ele pha nt sitt ing on you r arm ."
Wha t hap pen ed in Dur ang o?
On Sun day , Sep tem ber 14 aro und 2: 00 AM , a bla ck bea r ent ere d a con do bed roo m in Dur ang o, Col ora do thr oug h a par tia lly ope n win dow . The bea r rip ped off the bed roo m scr een , ope ned the par tia lly rai sed win dow , tor e cur tai ns fro m the wal l, and swi ped at a 17 -yea r-ol d gir l' s abd ome n. Colo rad o Park s and Wil dli fe Dis tri ct Wil dli fe Man age r Luk e Cla ncy sta ted : "Ba sed on wha t we kno w hap pen ed in thi s enc oun ter , the wom an is ver y luc ky she had mul tip le bla nke ts cov eri ng her whe n the bea r swi ped her ." The gir l hid ben eat h mul tip le bla nke ts dur ing the enc oun ter . Off ici als trea ted thi s as an ong oin g pub lic thr eat and ord ere d the bea r' s cap tur e and eut han asi a.
Wha t was the Wash ing ton inci den t?
On Sun day eve nin g, Sep tem ber 14, a bla ck bea r att ack ed an adu lt man and a min or chi ld on pri vat e res ide nti al pro per ty nor th of Lake Wha tco m in Wha tco m Cou nty , Was hin gto n. Fox 13 Sea tti e rep ort ed tha t the Wash ing ton Dep art men t of Fis h and Wil dli fe (WD FW) rec eiv ed an off ici al rep ort on Mon day , Sep tem ber 15 at 11 :30 AM and ope ned a fie ld res pon se. Col umb ian rep ort ed tha t WD FW inc rea sed act ive pat rol s aft er an uns ucc ess ful tra ppi ng eff ort . Off ici als pla ced bea r tra ps in the are a and has wor ked to add res s fut ure enc oun ter s.
Wha t off ici als are say ing abo ut saf ety
Col ora do Par ks and Wil dli fe and Was hin gto n Dep art men t of Fis h and Wil dli fe urg ed res ide nts and cam per s to tak e pre cau tio nar y mea sur es to pre ven t fur the r enc oun ter s. Off ici als sai d to sec ure foo d, gar bag e, pet sup pli es and othe r att rac tan ts, avo id run nin g fro m bea rs, and bac k awa y whi le spe aki ng cal mly and mak ing the mse lve s app ear lar ger . Col ora do Par ks and Wil dli fe clo sed Par k Cre ek Cam pgr oun d ear ly for the sea son fol low ing Bar an' s inci den t.
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