Michigan Hunter Says Attack By 'Curious' Black Bear Wasn't 'Vicious'
CLARE, Mich. (AP/WWJ) - A hunter who says he was attacked by a black bear in Michigan's Clare County has scratches on his forearm but no serious injuries.
Ron Davis says it wasn't a "vicious attack." He tells TV station WPBN that he was hunting for porcupine last Thursday when a bear attacked him from behind.
Davis says he fought the bear with a knife, and the animal ran away. The Department of Natural Resources is testing samples from the knife to try to confirm bear DNA. It could take two weeks.
Meanwhile, a bear trap with bacon has been set in Clare County's Greenwood Township, 100 miles north of Lansing.
Davis believes the bear was just "curious" about him and "decided to come over and investigate."
Michigan is home to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 bears — with 90 percent of the population in the Upper Peninsula, according to the DNR.
Bear experts say that in the rare circumstance that you encounter a bear that does not turn and leave, first try to scare it off by yelling while leaving a clear, unobstructed escape route for the bear. If the bear stands its ground, makes threatening sounds, take slow steps backward while continuing to talk to the bear in a stern tone. In the rare event of an attack, the DNR says you should fight back with a backpack, stick or your bare hands.
The DNR also recommends that Up North campers and hikers carry pepper spray, which has been shown to be effective in fending off bear attacks. [More about bears in Michigan, here].
TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
