Colorado man survives small town's second bear attack in three months
A Colorado man survived a bear attack in the backyard of his home when he fired at the animal and scared it away after it threw him to the ground, state wildlife officials said.
The attack occurred Saturday night in the small town of New Castle, Colorado Parks and Wildlife area manager Kirk Oldham said in a news release.
The man went into his backyard after hearing a noise and encountered the bear, which threw him to the ground, officials said. He then threw up his an arm to protect his face while grabbing a gun with his free hand and firing three shots, they said.
It's unknown whether the bear was hit by the bullets.
The man told Parks and Wildlife that he had seen the bear in his yard the previous two nights.
Heavy rain made it difficult for Parks and Wildlife officers to find and follow a blood trail and bear tracks as they searched for the animal, the news release said.Garfield County Sheriff's Office deputies assisted using a drone with infrared sensors to search for the animal.
They were still searching as of Monday.
The man, whose name was not released, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to his hand and arm, and bruising on his chest, the release stated.
It's the second bear attack in the western Colorado town in the last three months as bears prepare for hibernation, Oldham said.
In August, a bear charged a woman and swiped at her, lacerating her arm and back. The woman recovered, and a mother bear and cub were euthanized, The Denver Post reported.
"This is an unfortunate reminder that we need to be vigilant and 'bear aware' at all times," said Area Wildlife Manager Kirk Oldham. "We continue to see a lot of bear activity during the overnight hours as bears prepare for hibernation. Easy access to food sources, such as trash and fruit from trees that have fallen to the ground, will attract bears. Simple steps like picking up fruit and removing any attractants around your home are important in preventing incidents like this."
New Castle is located about 169 miles west of Denver, west of Glenwood Springs along I-70.