Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking into the sixth bear attack in Colorado this year.
According to a press release, the latest attack happened Friday evening, Aug. 21. A man was heading back to his vehicle after a day of fishing along the North Fork Trail in Jefferson County. That’s when a bear knocked the man to the ground and bit his legs.
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Witnesses say the attack continued for several minutes until the victim’s friends were able to scare the bear away. Other people in the area helped the man, who was brought to a local hospital with leg injuries.
According to responding CPW officers, the man was not carrying any fish at the time of the attack. The bear, which is described as a “subadult sow,” also did not have a cub.
Wildlife officers used dogs to track the bear, which was euthanized, in accordance with CPW policy for animal attacks. A necropsy is planned for the bear to learn what motivated the attack.
However, as with other recent incidents, CPW believes the ongoing drought and high temperatures are forcing bears to search for food in new areas.
This is the sixth bear attack of the year, and the fifth in August.
You can learn more about the other attacks and how to stay safe around bears in KUNC’s earlier reporting.