A group of teens ran into a black bear with her cubs last week while hiking the popular Mt. Si trail, northeast of North Bend in the Cascade foothills.
According to a statement from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the encounter happened around 1 p.m. on June 16. The three teen hikers were approximately 2.7 miles up the trail when the bear charged at the group and swiped at one of them. One boy was scratched by the animal. He was transported to a local hospital “with non-critical injuries related to the encounter,” according to an Eastside Fire & Rescue X post.
According to the WDFW statement: “A second group of hikers reported that they were followed closely by a black bear for several miles. The group stated they saw a second, smaller bear while they were exiting the trail. The trail was cleared and was closed while Fish and Wildlife Officers attempted to locate the animal. Officers concluded their search later that evening and did not locate either bear. Currently, no additional search efforts will be made.”
The trail and the greater Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area, which is managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, reopened later in the week. In the meantime, the department has placed bear awareness signs at all trailheads.
WDFW estimates that there are approximately 22,000 black bears in Washington. The department stresses that there has been only one recorded fatal black bear attack on a human, and that was in 1974. However, since then, about 20 human-black bear encounters have ended in injury to a person. The most recent case was in 2022.
- To avoid injury during a bear encounter, WDFW advises:
- If a bear walks toward you, identify yourself as a human by standing up, waving your hands above your head, and talking in a low voice.
- Back away, avoiding direct eye contact. Don’t run from a bear.
- Make noise and leash pets while hiking.
- Be aware of your surroundings to avoid startling a bear.
- Carry bear spray that is readily accessible and know how to use it. More information on how to use bear spray is available on WDFW’s blog.
For more information on living with black bears, go to: wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ursus-americanus#living
