Bear killed after attacking a runner in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Black Bear Photo: NPS photo by Neal Herbert

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON – Utah’s Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) received a report of a man who had been bitten by a black bear in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Wednesday, July 31 sometime between 1:15-1:30 p.m.

A man had been trail running in the Mill D North Fork Trail area of Big Cottonwood Canyon when he heard a bear in the brush. The bear approached the man, so he backed away and tried to make himself look big.

The bear bluff charged the man twice and as the man was backing away, he fell over a log when the bear bit him on his upper arm. The man kicked at the bear and was able to escape, DWR officials reported.

The man received puncture wounds to his arm during the incident and drove himself to St. Marks Hospital to receive medical attention.

DWR conservation officers and biologists responded to the scene and worked with tracking hounds to locate the bear. The bear was located around 9:45 p.m. Because the bear had shown aggressive behavior and injured a person it was euthanized, which follows DWR policy. The bear was an adult female.

Anytime a bear attacks a person, that bear will be euthanized to prevent future danger to the public, officials explained. This also enables the animal to be tested for disease (which can’t be done while it’s alive) so health professionals can know how to best treat the victim.

“Other reasons a bear may be euthanized when it hasn’t attacked a person would include bears that have acted aggressively toward people, show little fear of people, continue to return to areas where people are camping or recreating, or have caused significant real property damage to a dwelling or structure. Public safety is a top priority when dealing with wildlife incidents,” a statement from DWR read.

“Our staff got into the wildlife profession because we love wildlife. We enjoy managing and protecting animals so Utahns can get outdoors and enjoy them. Having to euthanize an animal is really hard. So we are reminding Utahns to take precaution when recreating outdoors and to take actions like carrying bear spray and keeping campgrounds clean,” Faith Jolley, Public Information Officer for DWR wrote in a statement about the incident.

Black bears can be found across Utah. Here are some safety tips if someone encounters a black bear in Utah:

• Stand your ground: Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Prepare to use your bear spray or another deterrent.

• Don’t run away or climb a tree. Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 mph — you cannot outclimb or outrun them.

• Know bear behavior. If a bear stands up, grunts, moans or makes other sounds, it’s not being aggressive. These are the ways a bear gets a better look or smell and expresses its interest.

• If a black bear attacks, always fight back. And never give up! People have successfully defended themselves with almost anything: rocks, sticks, backpacks, water bottles and even their hands and feet.

For more tips on staying safe around black bears, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information and a statement by DWR about its policies concerning animal euthanization.