Serious injuries from a black bear attack sent a Washington woman to the hospital after the bear struck from behind while she was walking her leashed dog in her backyard.
Here's what to know
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the attack occurred near a Snohomish County residence on the morning of Oct. 25, People reported.
The woman called authorities after getting back inside her home. During the attack, the bear knocked her down and then bit and clawed her.
The injuries that sent the unidentified woman to a local hospital were "serious but non-life-threatening injuries," according to the department.
In the account Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials gave ABC affiliate KOMO, the attack was unprovoked, and the woman was not at fault, according to People.
More background
Authorities searched for the bear after the woman escaped into her home. It was unconfirmed whether two black bears spotted nearby were related. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said they may have been a mother and cub.
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The growing overlap between people and wildlife helps explain why wild animals attack humans, though the circumstances reported here do not establish what triggered the bear's behavior.
The department did not identify her dog as the cause. Nor did it establish that a possible cub explained the attack.
What's being done?
The department planned to increase police patrols in the area and placed a trap near the attack site, according to People. The department said a search using dogs had failed to find the bear.
The department's advice for a bear encounter combined standing tall and waving overhead with speaking in a low voice. Those actions, it said, identify the person as human.
The department also recommended carrying bear spray and warned against both running from a bear and staring directly at it.
The Sultan Police Department issued a warning about the two animals: "If you see the bear or her cub, please stay indoors and do not attempt to approach, disturb, or interact with them."
"Public safety is our primary concern," Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police Lt. Erik Olson told KOMO, per People, "so if a human is attacked by wildlife, then we're going to be out here making every effort to actually capture that wildlife."
Where can I learn more?
As these stories show, bears wandering into towns can put both people and wildlife at risk.
• Virginia researchers tracked 22,000 hours of black bears, finding cold alone doesn't cue hibernation.
• A North Carolina cub trapped in a jar survived days with its mother waiting.
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