A 74-year-old Colorado man suffered “significant” claw injuries after being attacked by a black bear that entered his home, wildlife officials said.
The incident occurred Thursday night in Lake City when “a bear and three cubs entered the property by opening a partially cracked sliding glass door,” according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). It caused a loud crash sound, startling the residents inside. .
CPW Wildlife Officer Lucas Martin said in a statement: “We are certainly lucky there was no fatality, as it was a close call.”
The victim “grabbed a chair from the kitchen and attempted to coax the adult bear out the door,” but the female bear eventually lunged at him and slammed him into a wall, the agency said.
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A black bear forages for food near a river in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, on May 18, 2024. A Colorado man was attacked by a black bear that entered his home, wildlife officials said. (Jonathan Newton/Getty Images)
CPW said, “The bear clawed at the man, and the man was scratched with its claws, causing severe injuries to his head, neck, arms, lower abdomen, shoulders, and calves.”
The victim was treated for his wounds at the scene, but reportedly refused transport to a local hospital.
According to wildlife officials, the adult female bear and her three cubs then climbed a tree outside the home. “All four bears involved were euthanized after their involvement in the attack was confirmed. “I was made to do so.”
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A black bear is seen searching for salmon on the shores of Crescent Lake in Alaska's Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in August 2019. (Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket, Getty Images)
The animal's remains were then taken to the Fort Collins Health Laboratory to be tested for the disease.
“Obviously, these bears are very habituated and were willing to invade occupied homes where the occupants were sitting just a few feet away,” said Brandon Diamond, CPW Regional Wildlife Manager. said.
This incident is being described as Colorado's first reported bear attack in 2024, compared to six reports last year.
Wild Asian black bear. (St. Petersburg)
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“This is a tragic event, and it happened because bears continue to have access to human food sources,” Martin said. “We've been talking about this for decades: Access to human food sources, including garbage and bird feeders, leads to escalating and sometimes dangerous behavior in black bears. It's a loss for humans.”
