The bear entered a trailer at Eagle Point Campground within Emerald Bay State Park at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, June 22, officials said.<\/p>\n
The woman inside banged pots and pans and screamed at the bear to try to frighten it away, officials said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUndeterred, the bear forced its way into the trailer and swiped at the camper, leaving her with cuts and bruises on her arms and hand,\u201d the agency said in the release. The woman was later taken to a hospital.<\/p>\n
Later that morning, the same bear tore open the door to a camper van with teenagers sleeping inside and harassed others at the campground, officials said.<\/p>\n
Wildlife officers had already been trying to trap the bear since June 17 following multiple break-ins into homes and vehicles along with conflicts at the campground, officials said.<\/p>\n
On June 10, the bear entered a vehicle at the campground with a child strapped into a child seat inside, officials said.<\/p>\n
Multiple agencies also tried to drive the bear away from areas frequented by people, officials said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs wildlife professionals who devote our careers to the health and well-being of California\u2019s fish and wildlife species, euthanasia is a measure of last resort,\u201d Morgan Kilgour, regional manager for the agency, said in the release.<\/p>\n
Officials hope the bear\u2019s two cubs \u201ccan be rehabilitated and returned to the wild,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBear cubs learn everything from their mothers \u2013 good and bad behavior alike,\u201d Kilgour said in the release. \u201cA mother bear that constantly searches human-occupied areas for unnatural food sources, breaks into homes and vehicles teaches this behavior to her cubs and perpetuates another generation of human-bear conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n
What to do if you see a bear<\/h2>\n
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.<\/p>\n
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you\u2019re a human and nonthreatening.<\/li>\n
- Stay calm: Bears usually don\u2019t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.<\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.<\/li>\n
- Pick up small children: Don\u2019t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they\u2019re small prey.<\/li>\n
- Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.<\/li>\n
- Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don\u2019t make any sudden movements.<\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.<\/li>\n
- Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.<\/li>\n
- Again, don\u2019t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.<\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n