Woman survives Maryland’s first bear attacks in decades after punching it in the face, then playing dead
- 7 years ago
MIDDLETOWN, MARYLAND — A mother bear in Frederick County, Maryland has been put down after severely mauling a 63-year-old woman, in the state’s first recorded bear attack in decades.
Karen Osborne heard a dog barking next door in her daughter’s yard on Wednesday night and went over the investigate.
Unbeknownst to Osborne, her daughter’s dog had treed at least one bear cub. And Osborne walked right between mama bear and her three cubs. Acting to protect her young, the sow attacked Osborne.
Osborne at first tried to fight off the bear, punching it as it came back at her three more times. When that didn’t work, she played dead, dropping into a fetal position and calling 911. She was taken to the hospital, where she is in good condition, with a broken arm and bite wounds to her head and torso.
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources tracked the bear, which had been fitted with a radio caller earlier this year, and euthanized her.
A cub that was found in the tree was tranquilized and later released. All three cubs are nearly a year old and should be able to survive without their mother.
The bear was familiar to local residents, who said they were sad she had to go. It was Maryland’s first recorded bear attack in 81 years, WUSA9 reported.
Karen Osborne heard a dog barking next door in her daughter’s yard on Wednesday night and went over the investigate.
Unbeknownst to Osborne, her daughter’s dog had treed at least one bear cub. And Osborne walked right between mama bear and her three cubs. Acting to protect her young, the sow attacked Osborne.
Osborne at first tried to fight off the bear, punching it as it came back at her three more times. When that didn’t work, she played dead, dropping into a fetal position and calling 911. She was taken to the hospital, where she is in good condition, with a broken arm and bite wounds to her head and torso.
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources tracked the bear, which had been fitted with a radio caller earlier this year, and euthanized her.
A cub that was found in the tree was tranquilized and later released. All three cubs are nearly a year old and should be able to survive without their mother.
The bear was familiar to local residents, who said they were sad she had to go. It was Maryland’s first recorded bear attack in 81 years, WUSA9 reported.