The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has reported that a black bear attacked a man in the Henderson Canyon area of the state on July 31, as he opened his garage door. After sustaining an injury from the animal, the man extricated himself and called state wildlife officials for help, who responded immediately, accompanied by the Teton County Sheriff's Office. The attach occurred just some 30 miles west of Grand Teton National Park.
After a short search, the authorities found a female bear and its cub, potentially explaining the aggressive behavior. Both were euthanized.
While fully unrelated and on the other side of the country, this attack comes oddly on the heels of a similar situation in Pennsylvania on July 27, where a man was bit on the head by a bear in his garage after filling his pool with water.
In order to avoid run ins with bears, particularly when they are most active in summer, here are a few good tips to follow.
- Keep garbage in locked buildings, or bear-proof containers. Take exceedingly smelly trash to the dump regularly. When out on trail, use a bear cannister or bear hang.
- If you see a bear, stay calm and don't scream. Wave your arms slowly and speak softly, as this can help it identify you as non-threatening.
- When creating distance from a bear, do it slowly, do not run, as this could trigger an attack.
- Feed outdoor animals during daylight hours, and try not to leave food scraps outside your home.
- Do not attempt to climb a tree. This is pretty self-explanatory, but bears can indeed climb.
- When out hiking or scouting for hunting season, bring a buddy or two along. Bears generally do not want to attack, and will shy away from larger groups.
For more information on the Idaho bear attack, visit idfg.idaho.gov.
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