A man in Creswell was injured in an encounter with a male black bear Sunday. The incident happened on private industrial timberland west of the town in a semi-rural area.
The 72-year old man was walking with his dog on the forest road when they came across the bear, according to Oregon State Police. The dog barked and ran at the bear and the bear knocked the dog down when the man approached yelling and waving his arms to try to scare the bear away. But the bear charged the man, knocking him to the ground. The man fought back and the bear left. Man and dog walked back to his home, both were injured. They were medically treated and both are expected to recover.
Officials tracked the bear down and killed it later on Sunday. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says they are examining the bear for rabies and other disease. ODFW says this is standard for when an animal has injured a person.
Human-bear incidents are rare in Oregon. Black bear populations number between 25,000-30,000 statewide but there have only been four previously reported incidents in the state since 1988, none of them fatal.
Here are some tips for staying safe while hiking in bear country:
- Avoid trails with bear tracks or bear sign.
- Make noise when hiking so as not to surprise a bear.
- If you see a bear, leave the area.
- Stay far away from cubs?mother is nearby.
- Leash dogs. A loose dog may lead a bear back to you.
- Don’t hike after dark.
- Consider carrying bear spray in areas known to have bears.
For more information on co-existing with bears and what to do if you encounter one, visit https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp.
