A black bear followed a man up a tree and attacked him Saturday afternoon in northern Sheridan County in what the Wyoming Game and Fish Department describes as a rare scenario.
The bear had two young cubs-of-the-year with her and attacked the man after a surprise close encounter in the North Fork of West Pass Creek, according to Game and Fish.
The agency didn’t release the man’s identity or any details about the nature and extent of his injuries, stating only that he was treated later that same day at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.
Investigating game wardens determined that the bear was defending her cubs against a perceived threat and decided to leave the bears alone.
No Ongoing Threat To The Public
Such an attack by a black bear is extremely rare in Wyoming, Game and Fish Sheridan Region spokeswoman Christina Schmidt said in an email to Cowboy State Daily.
“This is a rare type of conflict. Bears generally avoid humans, but can be become defensive of food, offspring or personal space,” she wrote. “In this case, the man and bear encountered each other at close range and the bear perceived the man as a threat to the cubs.
“We do not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety by this bear, unless a similar scenario would be repeated.”
Man Called For Help After Attack
The man was hunting shed antlers when he stumbled into the bear and her cubs, according to Game and Fish.
“He was injured by the bear while climbing a nearby tree. After the bear left the area, he was able to get to a nearby ranch building and call for help,” according to a statement from the agency.
Most of Sheridan County is prime black bear habitat, according to the agency. There were numerous conflicts with black bears in the area last summer.
In most of those incidents, Game and Fish wardens hazed the bears away or trapped and relocated them. However, in two instances the bears had to be killed.
Bear spray is widely recommended in grizzly country. It’s also a good idea to carry it in black bear habitat, Schmidt stated.
“Bear spray is a beneficial tool for people to have and know how to use. There is good guidance on our website about what to look for when purchasing bear spray and how it should be properly used,” she wrote.
It’s been a busy time for black bears in Sheridan County. A man was attacked by a female bear defending her cubs Saturday. On Monday, this black bear cub was handing around alongside Beckton Road between Sheridan and Dayton early Monday. Local resident Terri Markham said she watched the cub for several minutes, but didn’t see its mother. (Courtesy Terri Markham) 
It’s been a busy time for black bears in Sheridan County. A man was attacked by a female bear defending her cubs Saturday. On Monday, this black bear cub was handing around alongside Beckton Road between Sheridan and Dayton early Monday. Local resident Terri Markham said she watched the cub for several minutes, but didn’t see its mother. (Courtesy Terri Markham)
Cub Spotted By Roadside
This summer is already shaping up to be a busy one for bears in Sheridan County.
In an unrelated incident early Monday, a woman spotted a black bear cub right alongside Becton Road, a popular back way locals take between Sheridan and Dayton.
Terri Markham told Cowboy State Daily that she first spotted the cub when it ran across the road in front of her as she was driving her daughters to a summer camp near Dayton.
The cub later came out of the tall grass alongside the road and lingered long enough for her to snap a few photos of it.
“It was just a little cub, probably born this spring,” she said.
“We stayed there for probably about five minutes, but never did see the momma bear. But I think she was probably around and just stayed out of sight,” Markham said.
