Man fights off bear attack near Yosemite, then drives himself to hospital

California Black Bear (not the actual bear that attacked the man in this story)


California Black Bear (not the actual bear that attacked the man in this story)

A 67-year-old California man fought off a bear that attacked him on his front porch, scavenging for food in his trash. The man and the bear both live near Yosemite National Park. Both bear and human survived, though the man was seriously injured with many cuts and trauma wounds from the fight, according to Lt. Chris Stoots of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The bear has not yet been found, but will be killed when he is, they said. The nature of the attack left officials with no other options. Bear attacks on humans are exceedingly rare, but the extreme drought conditions in California are driving bears and other wild animals closer to civilization, where they are foraging for their survival. So sad.

From the Los Angeles Times:

The bear was feeding on a bag of trash left 20 feet from the man's front door, Stoots said. The bear tackled the man and attacked him. But the man fought back, using his legs and arms, and eventually escaped back into his house.

Injured and bloodied, the man drove to the hospital, where he was in stable condition Thursday, Stoots said.