17-year-old swiped by black bear as she took trash to dumpster, Washington officials say
A 17-year-old girl was taking out the trash in Washington when a male black bear swiped at her, wildlife officials said.
The incident happened at about 9:36 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, in Roslyn, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said in a news release.
The teen was headed to a dumpster alone when the black bear appeared, wildlife officials said.
It struck her arm, scratching her skin and tearing her clothing.
Her injuries were minor, so she didn’t seek medical attention, officials said.
Wildlife officers were called to investigate the scene.
They found bear poop and hair around the dumpster, which made it appear the animal had become habituated to human food, wildlife officials told McClatchy News by email.
The bear was found a short time later and killed, officials said.
Bears can become conditioned to food
There are about 22,000 black bears in Washington.
It only takes one experience for a bear to become food-conditioned, officials said.
“The unintended reality is that these bears will likely die, being killed by someone protecting their property, or by a wildlife manager having to remove a potentially dangerous bear,” officials said.
Because of this, officials urge residents to not feed bears and to properly dispose of garbage.
Roslyn is in Kittitas County, about an 85-mile drive southeast from Seattle.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published August 14, 2024 at 5:04 PM with the headline "17-year-old swiped by black bear as she took trash to dumpster, Washington officials say."
