Black bear Attacks Teen at Mount. Si
The search for that black bear has begun by state officials.
At around 12:25 pm, a group of teenagers from the basketball team at Jefferson High School was 3 miles into their hike when they encountered a black bear and her cub.
One of the teenage boys got too close, which spooked the bear. It charged and clawed the teen, leaving his face and legs injured. Another boy from the group injured his ankle while running away.
"His injuries were very minor, but he was of course terrified. The bear tossed him around a little bit, but nothing serious. He's on his way to the hospital right now to be checked out, get the wounds clean, and maybe get some antibiotics," said King County Sheriff's Office deputy Peter Linde.
The teen was discharged from the hospital a day later and is physically okay but mentally shaken up, according to his parent.
Officer Linde concluded that the group of teens scared the bear, which prompted the aggressive behavior. So, Law Enforcement closed the trail and park. Hours after the attack, the state Fish and Wildlife Department searched the area for the bear with guns, with orders to kill the bear if found. No bear was located.
Black bears normally shy away from humans. In case you ever encounter a bear, the National Park Service recommends the following steps.
Identify yourself as human by speaking to the bear in a firm tone
Wave your arms and make noise to appear larger. If you are in a group, stand next to each other and make loud sounds.
If the black bear attacks you (in the unlikely event), fight back using your hands and legs. Aim for the eyes of use bear spray.
NEVER RUN FROM A BEAR. They are skilled runners and swimmers and can run up to 35 miles per hour.
According to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, there has only been one fatality from a black bear attack recorded in state history: a four-year-old who was killed in 1974. Only 20 human-bear encounters — including Tuesday's attack — have resulted in a documented injury in Washington, the most recent being a 2022 incident in Chelan County.
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Rare black bear attack on Mount Si injures hiker, shuts down mountain
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