A startled bear (not the one pictured) attacked a man in his backyard in New Castle, Colorado on October 1, wildlife officials said.
National Park Service
A man who went to check out a noise in his backyard was pinned to the ground by a frightened bear, Colorado officials said.
A man was investigating a noise around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in New Castle, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said in a press release.
He spooked a bear that was near his home, and the animal knocked him to the ground and restrained him, officials said.
The man used one hand to cover his face and pulled out a gun with his free hand and shot the bear three times, officials said.
He was taken to hospital with minor injuries to his hand, arm and chest.
He told wildlife officials he wasn’t sure if the bear had been hit by bullets. But wildlife officials were unable to find the bear or any blood tracks due to heavy rain.
According to officials, the man saw the bear in his yard two days before the attack.
“This is an unfortunate reminder that we must always be vigilant and be mindful,” wildlife manager Kirk Oldham said sadly in the release. “We continue to see a lot of bear activity during the nighttime hours as bears prepare for hibernation.”
Oldham ordered yelling, making noise or throwing things at the bear when it is near the house to make it uncomfortable in the area. This bear attack is the second this year in New Castle.
New Castle is about 170 miles west of Denver.
