A man in Sierra County was bitten by a bear while letting his dog outside of his home in Calpine. The harrowing encounter resulted in a series of events that led to the bear’s demise.
The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call from the homeowner on Saturday, December 9, reporting that he had been bitten by a bear the previous night.
The incident unfolded when he let his dog out for a bathroom break, only to witness the canine dart away. Concerned for his pet’s safety, he stepped outside, only to be confronted by a bear charging at him from his neighbor’s yard.
Despite attempts to evade the bear, he suffered bites on his hand, wrist, and leg. In a desperate move to protect himself and his dog, he got back into his house and retrieved a shotgun. In a tense standoff between the bear and his dog, the man fired his shotgun, ultimately taking down the bear.
Following the confrontation, he immediately sought medical attention at a local hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries but did not require hospitalization. The incident was promptly reported to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which initiated an investigation.
The wounded bear was later located. In light of public safety concerns and the bear’s injuries, Fish and Wildlife officials made the difficult decision to euthanize the bear. The carcass was then transported to Sacramento for a necropsy and rabies testing.
Fish and Wildlife say as black bear activity increases as bears prepare for winter, you can learn more about ways to prevent such incidents by learning more about human-wildlife conflicts at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/HWC/Black-Bears.
Photo by Bill Pennell on Unsplash
