Miraculous Moment Man Going For Run In California Foothills Survives Black Bear Attack
Injuries to humans from encounters with black bears are uncommon in California. Bears are erratic creatures, so when a black bear is defending its cubs or is startled or afraid, the majority of its "attacks" are protective maneuvers.
A black bear attacked a man from California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a 24-year-old man went for a run in the Long Barn hamlet and reported seeing a female bear with what he thought to be a cub by the side of the road.
The bear then pursued and attacked the man. The jogger was apparently pursued by the bear up an embankment.
"The man picked up large stick and hit the bear on the head and tried to seek protection from the bear behind a tree," a department spokesperson told PEOPLE.
The bear then attacked the man while he was riding in a car in a residential neighborhood, where he had to climb on top of the car.
"The owner of the residence where the vehicle was parked heard the commotion out front. She looked out front and observed the man on top of her car with a bear next to the vehicle," the spokesperson said. "The homeowner yelled at the bear and made noise, causing the bear to run away. She then called 911."
A black bear attacked a man from California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada
The man had injuries to his legs, back, and side, but according to officials, his condition is stable. At Adventist Health in Sonora, California, the man received treatment for his wounds.
Homeowner Heather Silfies told CBS that she observed the man running from the bear, appearing disheveled.
"I see this young man running down the road and a bear literally chasing and biting at him, and his shirt flapping in the wind. It was just shredded and he didn't have one of his shoes on all the way, so he's literally running with the shoe not on," she shared.
Silfies went on to describe the startling incident in more detail.
"The young man is standing on the roof of our Escalade. The bear is standing at the Escalade and she's trying to climb up. So she has her foot on the running board and she's literally jumping up at him, wanting to get on the roof, just wanting to attack him," she added.
A bear that has been acclimated to food may occasionally become overly confident and behave aggressively toward humans
Officers have so far collected DNA samples from the victim and the bear at the scene of the event. The bear has still eluded them, though.
According to the local publication Union Democrat, a CDW representative stated that the bear will be put to death if it is found. Human injuries from black bear interactions are uncommon in the state.
The majority of attacks are launched in self-defense, like when a bear defends a cub. A bear that gets used to eating humans may turn aggressive in other situations, though.
