A Colorado man on a late-night walk with his dogs made a dire mistake as he attempted to flee from a charging mother bear protecting her cubs. Colorado Parks & Wildlife reported that around 11 p.m., the Boulder resident was walking down High Street, which is a short residential road. He noticed the mother bear charging at him. Panicked, he began to run, but wound up tripping over the leash attached to his dogs. The bear was able to scratch the man’s back before disappearing into the night with her cubs. The man called local wildlife services to report the attack, saying his wounds were superficial. When officers responded to the scene, they noticed overturned trash cans, which was clear evidence of the bears. Hours of searching for the mother and her cubs were unsuccessful. Wildlife officials warned that bears are bulking up in preparation for hibernation right now, so they’re packing in around 20,000 calories a day. They often search in trash cans, yards and neighborhoods for scraps, which is why it’s crucial to stay vigilant about trash by using bear-resistant trash cans, taking down bird feeders, and locking doors and windows. They also recommend carrying bear spray when taking the trash out to the curb for pickup. If you do encounter a bear, DO NOT RUN. People should identify themselves as human by shouting and making themselves appear as large as possible.
