Black Bear.Photo: Getty
A woman is in the hospital after sustaining injuries from a bear attack near her home in Washington state.
Her injuries were not life-threatening and she’s currently recovering at a Wenatchee hospital, officials said.
While fighting the bear off, the woman eventually hit the animal in the face, which sent it running back into the woods.
“She didn’t see it coming so she could not make herself big, clap her hands, you know, yell at the bear, wave her arms,” he said. “Those are the things we usually tell people to do.”
“If the bear knocks you down, then yes, your solution is to fight. It was just instinct for her. She just turned around and popped it right in the nose,” Beausoleil added, noting that after she said she punched the bear in the face, it “shook” and ran away.
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Wildlife officers told the NBC affiliate thatthe bear was killednear the area of the attack, adding that the bear was “overweight,” which often indicates the animal has been eating leftovers and trash.
“Additionally two cubs, approximately nine months old, were captured, assessed, and transported to a PAWS wildlife rehabilitation facility,” theWDFWreported in the release.
“We are extremely thankful that the victim is receiving medical care from this unfortunate encounter,” said Captain Mike Jewell of WDFW in the release. “Public safety is our priority; our officers and staff were quick to mobilize to locate the animal and secure the scene.”
Officials shared tips for minimizing the risk of injury when encountering a bear, including making noise and resisting the urge to run.
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source: people.com
