Bear encounters are rare in Colorado, but Wildlife officials take any incidents involving bears and humans seriously. Mike Kaplan photo.
UPDATE — Wildlife officials have located and killed the bear involved with a recent bear attack in Aspen. Last Thursday the bear was found along State Highway 82 near the outskirts of the city and euthanized. According to Colorado Public Radio, the animal was not relocated due to a Parks and Wildlife's policy that mandates that any wild animal that attacks a human should be put down. Their fear is that if the aggressive animal were to be relocated, it would only cause additional harm in its new territory. Last year, 116 bears were euthanized, which was a large drop from 216 bears euthanized in 2017.
Original story: Officials are tracking an aggressive bear which bit a hiker's thigh near Aspen on Monday. According to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the victim and her husband were hiking on the Hunter Creek Trail near Lone Pine Road in Aspen when the attack occurred.
Per the release, the pair were hiking back towards Aspen when they saw a bear walking towards them up the trail. They stepped off the trail in an attempt to give the bear space as it walked by, but the bear charged them and bit the woman before running away and disappearing. The victim's wound isn't serious, but wildlife officials are urging Aspen residents to be cautious in case the bear, described as "light brown and weighing approximately 200-300 pounds," enters city limits.
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Wildlife officials have closed the section of trail where the attack occurred, and are actively searching for the culprit. "This is an aggressive bear and by policy, we will put it down if found," said CPW Officer Matt Yamashita." But until we find it, the public should remember what to do if they see any bear. If it appears aggressive or shows no fear of humans, do not approach it. Haze it away by yelling or banging pots and pans, then call CPW or 911 immediately," he said. "Fortunately, these incidents remain very rare. But when people and bears interact, it can increase the possibility of a dangerous conflict. This woman was lucky that she was not seriously injured."
CPW offers some basic advice about what to do in case of a bear encounter:
-Do not run from a bear, stand your ground and talk firmly to the animal
-If it continues to approach, throw rocks and sticks, wave your arms and yell loudly
-If the bear attacks, fight back as aggressively as possible and do not stop until the bear runs off
We would also recommend carrying bear spray while traveling in bear habitat. For more information on how to travel safely in bear habitat and what to do in case of an encounter, see the National Park Service's website.
About The Author
stash member Zack Skovron
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, now living in Jackson, WY. I’m an avid skier, biker, hiker, climber, and fisherman. Outside of sports, my major interests focus on public policy surrounding land use and energy systems.