Getting inside her home enabled an older Washington woman to escape a black bear that attacked her while she was taking out the trash.
Here's what to know
The bear's attack came from behind, according to local outlet KGW News. The encounter happened in a Snohomish County community along Highway 2.
The bear continued "biting and scratching her" before she was able to get back inside, the station reported. The animal had followed her as she got up and tried to reach the house.
The report said the woman was OK but provided no further details about her condition or medical care.
Whether officers found the animal and what ultimately happened to it was not immediately clear.
KGW News reported that Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers had used hounds in an attempt to locate the bear.
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More background
A nearby bar was the site of a bear sighting just a week before. In that instance, the animal was seen rummaging through the garbage, per KGW.
Food kept or disposed of outside can draw hungry wildlife close to homes and businesses. People leaving food and trash uncovered outdoors may contribute to human-wildlife encounters, which can be exacerbated by development pushing further and further into natural habitats.
"This is the time of the year when they should be fattening up for the winter," the bar owner told KGW on tape, underscoring that seasonal shifts may be a risk factor as well.
In response to the local outlet's video reporting, one viewer commented on the challenges of people and wildlife increasingly sharing space.
"It's a very rural area that's becoming populated," they wrote.
Another commenter was hopeful that residents could help solve the problem of dangerous human-wildlife encounters by taking some simple precautions.
"Animals are important — don't hurt [the bear]," they wrote. "Just remove the trash."
What's being done?
Keeping food and garbage secured was the focus of Fish and Wildlife officials' advice to residents about avoiding bear attractants.
For the bar owner, the earlier sighting had already prompted a change. He told KGW News he had contacted Waste Management for a replacement metal dumpster equipped with a lock.
Leaving food unsecured could also carry financial consequences, in addition to safety concerns. Fish and Wildlife said it could carry a $1,000 fine, per the local outlet.
Where can I learn more?
Bears searching for food near human spaces can end up in danger themselves:
• In Colorado, drought is sending hungry bears into towns, raising risks for people and wildlife.
• California rescuers cut open a water tank to free a mother bear and three cubs.
• In North Carolina, a cub survived days trapped by a jar before reuniting with its mother.
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