In the state of Utah, a black bear was put down after it bit a camper as he was sleeping in his camping area during the night he was there.
During an interview that took place on Thursday, June 19, from his hospital bed, Nate Peterson, 43, stated that he was resting down on his cot for the evening after working at a cabin site in Bryce Woodlands. At that time, a black bear weighing 300 pounds approached him.
“Crazy bear. I was just sitting there minding my own business,” according to the construction worker. “Bear walked up and hit the side of my bed. Then he came over and jumped up on my bed.”
According to Peterson, he attempted all in his power to get the black bear away from him, but it was to no use.
“And then he jumped down and bit my arm and I went to screaming and threw him off and started throwing stuff at him and tried to get him away and he just kept following me,” he stated.
According to Peterson, he attempted all in his power to get the black bear away from him, but it was to no use.
“It’s a whole other experience,” he continued. “It’s nothing like getting bit by a dog or getting thrown off of a horse or anything.”
Euthanizing the black bear is the responsibility of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), which is the body responsible for the process.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) received a complaint of the event on Tuesday, June 17, possibly between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., according to a spokeswoman who issued a statement.
It was reported that Peterson was “sleeping on a cot outside,” and in addition to the bite, he also sustained scratches on his back.
“The man fought the bear off and then ran to his truck, with the bear following after him. One of his co-workers had a firearm and fired two shots, and the bear ran away,” the DWR spokesperson stated.
After fending the bear off, the man fled to his truck, with the creature pursuing him. According to the DWR spokeswoman, the bear fled after one of his coworkers brandished a gun and fired two bullets.
Following treatment, Peterson was discharged from a nearby Panguitch hospital.
But he “returned to the emergency room at Sevier Valley Hospital Thursday with an infection in the wound and will remain hospitalized for several days.”
Officers from the Department of Natural Resources and DWR biologists arrived on the location early on Wednesday, June 18, in order to track the black bear.
“At around 1 p.m. Wednesday, the bear was located. The bear, a 3-4 year old male, had shown aggressive behavior and injured a person, so per DWR policy, it was euthanized and then submitted for disease testing,” according to the agency.
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Additionally, the DWR representative offers advice on what people should do in the event that they ever encounter a similar circumstance.
Never back down, lie down, or act like you’re dead. Instead, stand your ground. Remain composed and give the bear time to get away. They advise, “Get ready to use your bear spray or another deterrent.”
People should never “run away or climb a tree,” either.
“Black bears can run up to 35 mph and are excellent climbers; you cannot outrun or outclimb them.”
Understanding bear behavior is another piece of advice. Generally speaking, bears that stand or grunt are not hostile. Authorities advise people to “always fight back” and “never give up” in the event of a bear attack.
