Black bear seriously injures woman outside cabin in Nisswa
NISSWA, Minn. – A woman was seriously injured by a black bear early Friday morning in central Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it happened just after midnight in Nisswa outside of a cabin on Gull Lake.
The DNR says the victim was staying at the cabin, and she was attacked when she went outside to check on her dog, who she had let out moments earlier.
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The bear reportedly "swiped at her, striking her in several places" before it left the area, the DNR says. Her injuries were not life-threatening.
The DNR believes that the bear probably got spooked by the dog, and then began to swat at the woman in defense.
This is only the 10th bear attack resulting in serious injury in Minnesota in about 36 years, and the DNR says black bears are "rarely aggressive."
Warning: The image below is graphic and may be disturbing for some.
Since bears are typically attracted by food, the DNR advises property owners to remove bird feeders, keep grills clean, feed pets inside, and put garbage in bear-proof containers.
Find more bear safety information on the DNR's website, and on BearWise.org.
WCCO News viewer Amanda Georgopoulos snapped this photo of a black bear Sunday on Mission Road near Gull Lake. It's unknown if this was the bear involved in Friday's incident.
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NOTE: The story was updated with a picture of the victim's injuries.