Man Survives Bear Attack in California
- A man running in California foothills was chased and attacked by a mother bear.
- The man suffered scratches and multiple bites but survived the bear attack.
- Officials reported the incident on Tuesday.
LONG BARN – A man sustained injuries from scratches and bites after being attacked by a mother bear while running in the foothills of California on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on North Fork Road, near Highway 108 in Tuolumne County. According to officials from the Mi-Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District, the man encountered a bear cub on the road, prompting the mother bear to emerge from the trees and chase him. In an attempt to evade the bear, the man sought refuge behind a tree, but the mother bear located him and launched an attack. Following the encounter, the man managed to escape and jumped onto the hood of a nearby parked car, which attracted the attention of the vehicle's owner. Fortunately, the man was able to seek help after the incident. Black bear encounters in California are becoming more frequent, although injuries from such encounters remain rare. Notably, a 71-year-old woman was killed by a black bear earlier this year, marking the first recorded fatal bear attack in the state. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife notes that black bears are the only bear species in California, with adult females weighing between 100-300 pounds and males ranging from 150-400 pounds. Officials advise that agitated bears may display aggressive behaviors, such as snarling and bluff charging, which can pose risks to humans in their vicinity.