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Couple Fights Off Black Bear Attack With Hatchet
10 Jun
Summary
- A couple fought off a young black bear with a water bottle and hatchet.
- The attack occurred outside their home in the Sierra Nevada.
- Wildlife authorities later euthanized the bear due to public safety concerns.
A couple in California's Sierra Nevada region narrowly escaped serious harm when they were attacked by a young black bear outside their residence. The 17-month-old bear, weighing around 70 pounds, initially engaged with one of the resident's dogs before aggressively turning on the woman and then the man.
Using quick thinking, the couple fought back, with the woman using a water bottle and the man retrieving a hatchet from their home. They managed to critically injure the bear, stopping the assault. Both individuals sustained injuries and transported themselves to a local hospital, where they were expected to recover. Their dogs received treatment for minor wounds.
Mammoth Lakes Police confirmed the incident occurred on June 8 in the Old Mammoth area. Following the encounter, California Department of Fish and Wildlife authorities located the bear and, determining it was a public safety threat, humanely euthanized it. Police emphasized the extreme rarity of such aggressive bear behavior in the area, as bears typically avoid humans.
