A Look At Recent Black Bear Attacks

In recent months, there have been several alarming incidents of black bear attacks across North America.

Black bears are beautiful, intelligent animals that can survive where brown bears can’t. And although they are far less aggressive than their larger cousins, they do attack.

One such attack occurred in Alpine, Arizona, where a 15-year-old boy named Brigham Hawkins was injured inside his family’s cabin according to the Arizona Fish & Game Department. The bear entered through an open door, swiping at Brigham’s face and arm before being dispatched by wildlife officers.

Another incident in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, involved a woman who was attacked by a bear while running on a trail according to a report at Global News. She was knocked down and bitten but managed to escape with minor injuries. Conservation officers have since placed warning signs in the area to alert others of the potential danger​.

The reason for this story is that black bear numbers are rising and contact with them will continue. A lot of people have a wrong impression of what to do if attacked by a black bear. Most say play dead. That’s for grizzlies. Not for black bears!

Here are black bear encounter and attack tips from bearwise.org

BLACK BEAR CHARGE