Wildlife officers in Washington state have euthanized an adult black bear and a younger companion following a weekend attack that left a local resident seriously injured. The incident unfolded shortly before 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, at a residential property in the town of Index.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, a woman was walking her leashed dog in her backyard along Index-Galena Road, near U.S. Route 2, when a black bear approached from behind and knocked her to the ground. The animal bit and clawed the victim while she was down. Despite her injuries, the woman managed to retreat inside her home and place a 911 call.
Emergency responders transported the victim to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She was discharged from medical care on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Following the assault, wildlife officers deployed tracking dogs and established a trap in the area after neighbors reported sightings of a large adult bear alongside a younger animal, believed to be a mother and its cub. Residents throughout Index had previously reported multiple encounters with bears coming close to porches, forcing entry into locked storage sheds, and scattering household garbage across lawns.
The response escalated on Tuesday afternoon when officers received reports of two bears positioned in a tree behind a local business. Approximately twenty minutes before that report, a neighbor observed the animals digging through garbage containers. Wildlife personnel arrived to find the adult and juvenile bears in the tree with refuse accumulated beneath them. Both animals were euthanized at the scene, subsequently removed, and scheduled for disease testing.
State officials emphasized that departmental policy mandates the lethal removal of any wildlife involved in attacks on humans. Furthermore, authorities noted that when bears grow accustomed to human trash and other non-natural food sources, relocation efforts rarely succeed because the animals lose their natural wariness of people and tend to return.
“Decisions to lethally remove wildlife are never easy and are typically made through close coordination between WDFW biologists, Wildlife Conflict Specialists, law enforcement officers, and other experts,” the department stated. “Unfortunately, once bears know about a non-natural food source or are fed by humans, they may keep coming back to that place. These bears can lose their fear of people, creating a threat of injury to humans.”
State biologists pointed out that bears actively forage for food during the autumn months to build reserves for winter hibernation. Officials urge residents to secure potential outdoor attractants by locking garbage containers, storing livestock and pet feed indoors, removing bird feeders, and thoroughly cleaning barbecue grills.
In the event of an unexpected encounter with a bear, wildlife experts advise standing upright, waving hands overhead, and speaking in a calm, low voice. Individuals should back away slowly while avoiding direct eye contact and must never run. Additional safety recommendations include making noise to signal presence, keeping domestic animals leashed, and carrying bear spray.
