- A man was bitten by a black bear in the Bryce Woodlands of southern Utah.
- The bear was euthanized by DWR due to its aggressive behavior.
- DWR advises using bear spray and fighting back if attacked by bears.
PANGUITCH — A black bear has been killed in Garfield County after biting a man who was sleeping in a cot.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says the incident happened Tuesday in the Bryce Woodlands community sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. A 43-year-old man from Koosharem, Sevier County, who was sleeping in a cot was woken up by a black bear who wandered into his area. The man was in the area with co-workers who were camping while building a cabin, according to state officials.
"The man initially stayed still in hopes the bear would move on and leave the area, but the bear approached the man and bit him on the arm," DWR said in a statement.
The man was taken to a hospital in Panguitch, where he was treated and later released. According to a DWR spokeswoman, the bite "caused a large laceration" on the man's arm which required several stitches. He was also treated for a "scratch" caused by the bear to the man's back.
After being bit, "The man did fight the bear off, and then ran to his truck with the bear following after him. One of the co-workers had a firearm and fired two shots, and the bear ran away," said DWR spokeswoman Fatih Jolley.
DWR biologists and Department of Natural Resources officers went to the area Wednesday afternoon and were able to track down the bear about 1 p.m.
"The bear, a male, had shown aggressive behavior and injured a person, so per DWR policy, it was euthanized and then submitted for disease testing," the department said.
The incident happened within 3 miles of the France Canyon Fire in the Bryce Woodlands subdivision. DWR officials say it's impossible to know if the fire and the attack are related but say it is possible the bear was displaced from its home by the fire.
As a safety reminder to others, the DWR says those who come across black bears should "stand your ground. Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave." The department also recommends having bear spray or some other kind of deterrent.
Furthermore, DWR officials say people cannot outrun or out climb a black bear and don't recommend trying it.
"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," the department said. "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."
