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Man Survives Black Bear Attack at Utah Campsite: 'It's Nothing Like Getting Bit by a Dog'
Man Survives Black Bear Attack at Utah Campsite: 'It's Nothing Like Getting Bit by a Dog'

Yahoo

time21-06-2025

  • Yahoo

Man Survives Black Bear Attack at Utah Campsite: 'It's Nothing Like Getting Bit by a Dog'

A black bear was killed after attacking a camper in Utah The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources tells PEOPLE it's their policy to euthanize bears that show signs of aggression Nate Peterson, 43, was initially released from a local hospital, but returned for an infection to his woundA black bear was euthanized in Utah after it entered a camper's sleeping area during the night and bit him. In an interview from his hospital bed on Thursday, June 19, Nate Peterson, 43, told KTSU he was settling on his cot for the evening after working at a cabin site in Bryce Woodlands, when a 300-pound black bear approached him. "Crazy bear. I was just sitting there minding my own business," the construction worker said. "Bear walked up and hit the side of my bed. Then he came over and jumped up on my bed." Peterson said he did all he could to get the black bear away from him to no avail. "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 told the news station. 'It's a whole other experience,' he added. 'It's nothing like getting bit by a dog or getting sewn off of a horse or anything.' The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is the agency responsible for euthanizing the black bear. In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson says the DWR received a report of the incident sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17. Peterson was 'sleeping on a cot outside,' and in addition to the bite, he also received 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 tells PEOPLE. Peterson was released from a local hospital in Panguitch after receiving treatment. However, he "returned to the emergency room at Sevier Valley Hospital Thursday with an infection in the wound and will remain hospitalized for several days," KTSU reported. On the morning of Wednesday, June 18, DWR biologists and Department of Natural Resources officers responded to the scene 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,' the agency tells PEOPLE. The DWR spokesperson also shares tips on what individuals should do if they ever find themselves in a similar situation. 'Stand your ground: Never back up, lie down or play dead. Stay calm and give the bear a chance to leave. Prepare to use your bear spray or another deterrent,' they say. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Additionally, people should never 'run away or climb a tree.' 'Black bears are excellent climbers and can run up to 35 mph — you cannot outclimb or outrun them.' Other tips include being knowledgeable about bear behavior. Bears that stand or grunt are typically not aggressive. However, if a bear does attack, authorities say 'always fight back' and 'never give up." Read the original article on People

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