An elderly man is in hospital after a bear mauled his legs for several minutes as he returned from a fishing trip, becoming the sixth person attacked in Colorado this year.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is investigating the incident, which happened on Friday, 21 August, at the North Fork Trail in Jefferson County. The man, in his 60s, was walking back to his car with a friend after a day of fishing when the bear swept him off his feet and knocked him to the ground.
Bystanders watched as the animal continued to maul him for several minutes before some of his friends managed to scare it off. The group then helped the man up and got him to safety, according to KUNC.
Bear tracked and euthanised
Responding CPW officers said the man was not carrying any fish at the time of the attack. The bear was described as a “subadult sow,” or a young female, and she did not have a cub.
CPW, along with the US Department of Agriculture and Plant Health Inspection Service, used a dog team to track the bear by scent. The animal was found and euthanised, in accordance with CPW policy for animal attacks. A necropsy is planned to determine what motivated the attack.
Drought and heat blamed
CPW believes the ongoing drought and high temperatures are forcing bears to search for food in new areas. This is the sixth bear attack of the year and the fifth in August.
The agency said the increase in attacks comes at a time of year when bears increase feeding activity as they prepare for winter. However, natural food sources are far more scarce after very dry weather, so some bears can become more bold when looking for food.
Safety warnings issued
Officials have warned people to stay alert while outdoors, urging them not to leave behind rubbish or food scraps, keep dogs on leads, and not to approach or run away from a bear if spotted. They also recommend carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.
Other attacks this year include a hiker trailed and attacked at Apex Park on June 21, the state’s first reported attack of the year, which led to the park being temporarily shut. On August 17, a man leaving a block of flats in Eagle-Vail was swiped at by a female bear but managed to escape. A bear also broke through a sliding door in Steamboat Springs, scratching a female homeowner in the face. In Aspen on August 19, a homeless man sleeping in Rio Grande Park was bitten on the head and hospitalised with head and facial injuries.
