Mammoth Lakes, California – Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife captured and euthanized a 17-month-old bear who scuffled with a dog and injured two people. According to a release from the Mammoth Lakes Police Department, the incident happened in the early morning hours on June 8.
The agency describes what transpired:
Officers learned an adult woman heard her dogs barking and saw a black bear fighting with one of her dogs in front of her home. Another dog got out when the woman went outside and she attempted to stop the bear from fighting with her dogs. The bear then turned its attention toward her, biting and clawing her. Hearing what was occurring, the man came outside to intervene and was aggressively confronted by the bear as well. The woman was able to grab a water bottle and use that to strike the bear until the man could get free.
Describing how the bear was injured:
Then the man retrieved a hatchet from within the house and used the blunt end of it to strike the bear multiple times, critically injuring the bear and stopping the confrontation.
Both people were injured but able to drive themselves to a hospital for treatment. The dog involved in the scuffle only sustained minor injuries.
“Incidents like this are extremely rare in Mammoth Lakes,” said Chief Dan Casabian. “Bears almost always avoid humans and will flee when confronted. This type of aggressive behavior is highly unusual. We are grateful that the couple are expected to make full recoveries and appreciate the quick response of our officers, CDFW, Bishop Veterinarian Hospital, and Mammoth Hospital Staff.”
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18 Comments
Poor little bear…..why are bears always the victim in this evil country…..
People are so stupid! If they invade the bear’s space, what do they expect???? If someone breaks into your home, would you not try to protect it??????
Disgraceful that that idiot used a hatchet on that bear. It was just a juvenile. People disgust me.
U are right – he was just a toddler (in human years). He didn’t know any better & was probably very hungry.
U are right – he was just a toddler (in human years). He didn’t know any better & was probably very hungry.
He used the blunt end and he used it to protect his WIFE! Would have preferred they just have a chat while he mauled her to death?
The humans and the dog invaded the bear’s territory. The bear was only defending his home and should NEVER have been murdered for that. People are so stupid to try to interact with wildlife and to let their dog be in such danger. These people need to be jailed for a very long time.
So what happened to the bear? Does no one care about that?
The 17 month old bear was euthanized ~ friggin sad. still a baby for sure!
When you live in the bear’s habitat, they should be respected.
I don’t want people and dogs to get hurt BUT respect the Bears please ~ wildlife were here first!
U are right – he was just a toddler (in human years). He didn’t know any better & was probably very hungry.
Those yappy dogs irritate both wildlife and humans. A similar incident happened across the street from me. Living in W. NC, we see lots of bears. One got onto my neighbor’s property and their yappy/barking dog wouldn’t leave it alone, so the bear did what bears do – dispatched it. While I feel sorry for the dog, I fully understand why the bear did what it did. The bear left and no one bothered to hunt it down, and why should they?
Dogs did not decide to invade the territory of bears. The humans did that. Dogs guard their owners’ property by “yapping/barking” and physically protecting it, AND and that is what many peopIe use them for,
You wrote you feeI sorry for the dog who was dispatched by a bear, but your TRUE feeIings about dogs was expressed by your description of them, and then caIIing them irritating to both wiIdIife and humans.
Those yappy dogs irritate both wildlife and humans. A similar incident happened across the street from me. Living in W. NC, we see lots of bears. One got onto my neighbor’s property and their yappy/barking dog wouldn’t leave it alone, so the bear did what bears do – dispatched it. While I feel sorry for the dog, I fully understand why the bear did what it did. The bear left and no one bothered to hunt it down, and why should they?
Les ours étaient là chez eux avant les humains.
the humans invaded their habitat and i bet the dog was loose too. ridiculous to kill the bear
Real animal lovers! Humans suck
This story sounds very suspicious
This story sounds very suspicious