CUMBERLAND, Wis. — A rural woman was attacked by a black bear outside her home and seriously injured. Karen Frye, age, 69, managed to call 911. She was taken to the nearby Cumberland hospital, then transferred 80 miles to a St. Paul hospital in Minnesota. Although the her injuiries were serious, Frye’s condition was listed as stable. Derails of the attack were unclear other than Frye being outside with her dogs. This was about 2 p.m. Emergency responders found a blood trail and fired three shots at the presumed attack-bear, but it ran off. A bear cub was found up a nearby tree, which led to a tentative conclusion that the attack-bear may have been a mother in a protective maternal mode. Black bears are common in forested northwest Wisconsin. Attacks are rare. Bears and humans generally co-exist easily, but both avoid encounters.
Woodsy back lot. Although generally shy, bears do venture close to human habitat to forage for food scraps in trash. Image: Barron County sheriff
Wisconsin black bears
The Wisconsin wildlife agency estimates the state has 24,000 bears. They are not inherently aggressive and tend to avoid humans. Aggressive behavior sometimes occurs if a she-bear is protecting her cubs. European settlers mostly wiped out the region’s bear population, but re-colonization has been occurring over recent decades. The bear population has been moving steading south. Sightings have been as far south as Wisconsin and Minnesota’s Iowa border.
Black bear profile
The black bear is the smallest species of bars in North America. Adult males typically weigh 190 pounds, females 130 pounds. Some, however, are twice as heavy. They hibernate in in winter and emerge lighter — and hungry — in spring. They enjoy swimming and feed largely on fish. They also climb trees and eat foliage.
Tips for n a bear encounter
> Never approach a bear. Do not run. Bears are fast runners. Do not lie down or play dead.
> Talk to the bear. If it doesn’t leave, start shouting and raise your arms above your head and wave to appear larger than you are.
> Slowly back away. Don’t turn your back on the bear.
> Always leave an escape route for the bear.
> Fight back if attacked.