Bear euthanized after attacking runner in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon

Jenna Bree & Spencer Burt, KSTU

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (KSTU) — A man was attacked by a achromatic carnivore while way moving successful Big Cottonwood Canyon Wednesday afternoon.

Unfortunately, wildlife officials opportunity they had to euthanize nan animal because it showed fierce behaviour toward a human.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said it received nan study of a man being bitten astir 1:15-1:30 p.m. The man was way moving successful nan Mill D North way area of nan canyon.

The way runner reportedly heard a carnivore successful nan brush, and it past approached him. The man said he backed distant and tried to make himself look large — which, according to wildlife experts’ tips for encounters pinch achromatic bears, was partially correct. While Wild Aware Utah does propose “[making] yourself look bigger by raising your arms and opinionated tall,” they opportunity it’s champion to guidelines your ground, stay calm, and not backmost away.

DWR officials opportunity nan carnivore “bluff charged” nan man twice. Then, arsenic he was backing up, he tripped complete a log, and nan carnivore spot him connected his precocious arm. He was past capable to flight aft kicking astatine nan bear.

The man was capable to thrust himself to a section hospital, wherever he received aesculapian attraction for puncture wounds connected his arm.

Conservation officers and biologists pinch nan DWR responded to nan area and searched for nan carnivore pinch search hounds. They recovered it astir 9:45 p.m.

“Because nan carnivore had shown fierce behaviour and injured a person, it was euthanized, per policy,” nan section wrote successful a news merchandise Wednesday night.

The agency said nan carnivore was an big female.

The DWR and Wild Aware supply nan pursuing tips connected what to do if you travel face-to-face pinch a achromatic bear:

– Stand your ground: Never backmost up, dishonesty down aliases play dormant pinch a achromatic bear. Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and opinionated tall. Stay calm and springiness nan carnivore a chance to leave. Be prepared to usage carnivore spray aliases different deterrent.

– Don’t tally distant aliases climb a tree. Black bears are fantabulous climbers and tin tally up to 35 mph — you cannot outclimb aliases outrun them.

– Know carnivore behavior. If a carnivore stands up, grunts, moans aliases makes different sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are nan ways a carnivore gets a amended look aliases smell and expresses its interest.

– If a achromatic carnivore attacks, ever conflict back. And ne'er springiness up! People person successfully defended themselves pinch almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, h2o bottles and moreover their hands and feet.

More tips connected avoiding encounters pinch achromatic bears and staying safe successful wide successful “bear country” tin beryllium recovered connected nan Wild Aware Utah website.

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