Rare Black Bear Attack in Washington Injures Hiker
Eastside Fire and Rescue said the injuries are not life-threatening as crews evacuate the hikers and Washington wildlife officials search for the bear.
- On Tuesday, a black bear attacked two teenage hikers on the Mount Si trail near North Bend, with one teen sustaining scratches and the second injured while fleeing the encounter.
- Thomas Jefferson High School basketball players encountered a mother bear and her cubs about 2.7 miles up the trail, a rare occurrence given Washington's documented history of roughly 20 attacks since 1970.
- King County Search and Rescue crews used an ATV to transport the injured teen, who suffered "non-life-threatening injuries," after several hikers called 911 for assistance with the evacuation.
- Mount Si, Little Si, and Mount Teneriffe trails are closed "until further notice" while state Fish & Wildlife officers search for the bear, with officials urging public caution in the area.
- Wildlife authorities recommend carrying bear spray and remaining alert, warning that "cubs out there" increase defensive encounter risks and improperly stored food can attract bears to recreation areas.
26 Articles
26 Articles
King5 News
Search called off for bear involved in rare attack on Mount Si
State officials will reopen trails in the area on Thursday, June 18.
Black Bear Charges Teen Hikers on Washington’s Mount Si
Two teens were hurt after a bear encounter on a popular trail near North Bend. NORTH BEND, WA — A black bear charged three teenage hikers Tuesday on the Mount Si trail east of Seattle, scratching one boy and sending another down the mountain with an ankle injury, officials said. The encounter closed trails at...
Teen Hiker Meets Black Bear's Claws
A teen hiking on a popular Washington state mountain trail got quite a scare Tuesday afternoon when a black bear charged and clawed him, officials say. The boy, one of three people hiking Mount Si about 35 miles from Seattle, was scratched when the bear "swiped" at him roughly 2....
The Columbian
Mother bear attacks first-time hikers on Mount Si; teens injured
A hiking group that included first-timers got the ultimate fright Tuesday when a black bear encounter hospitalized one teenager and left another with injuries, according to authorities. Read more...
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