SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A black bear in Big Cottonwood Canyon was euthanized on Wednesday after attacking and biting a hiker, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said.
Officials got a report of the bear attack on July 31 just before 1:30 p.m. The hiker had been trailing running in the Mill D North Fork Trail area in Big Cottonwood Canyon when he heard the bear in the brush.
As the bear approached, the man began slowly backing away and tried to make himself look big.
“The bear bluff charged the man twice,” said DWR spokesperson Faith Jolley. “As the man was backing away, he fell over a log and the bear bit him on his upper arm.”
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The man, who has not been identified by officials, was able to fight against the bear by kicking it away and escaping. Jolley told ABC4.com he suffered puncture wounds to his arm in the attack but was able to drive himself to St. Marks Hospital in Millcreek for medical treatment. The severity of the puncture wounds is unknown.
DWR conservation officers and biologists found the bear just before 10 p.m. later that night.
“Because the bear had shown aggressive behavior and injured a person, it was euthanized, per policy,” Jolley explained. “It was an adult female bear.”
Jolley said black bears such as the one that attacked the hiker on Wednesday in Big Cottonwood Canyon can be found across Utah. She said there are some safety tips you can use if you ever encounter a bear while recreating Utah’s wilderness:
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Stand your ground: Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Prepare to use your bear spray or another deterrent.
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Don’t run away or climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 mph — you cannot outclimb or outrun them.
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Know bear behavior. If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are the ways a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest.
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If a black bear attacks, always fight back. And never give up! People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet.
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