In a terrifying incident, a 74-year-old man narrowly escaped serious injury after a black bear and her three cubs entered his home in Lake City, Colorado.
The encounter unfolded around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, startling the man and other residents with a loud crash, as reported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The source of the noise? A black bear and her cubs had managed to squeeze through a partially open sliding glass door. In a desperate attempt to protect himself, the man grabbed a kitchen chair and tried to push the bear out. Unfortunately, the bear charged, knocking him against a wall and swiping at him, leaving him with injuries to his head, neck, arms, abdomen, shoulder, and calf.
Fortunately, the man and the other occupants were able to escape the chaos by locking themselves in a bedroom. By the time law enforcement arrived, the mother bear had exited the house, but her cubs remained inside. A sheriff’s deputy was able to guide them outside safely.
First responders treated the man's wounds at the scene, and he opted not to go to the hospital. “It’s certainly lucky we didn’t have a fatality,” said Lucas Martin, a wildlife officer. “Because it was close.”
Following the incident, all four bears were euthanized and will undergo testing for disease and a full necropsy. Brandon Diamond, an area wildlife manager, stated there was “no doubt” these bears were involved in the attack, noting they were “highly habituated” to human presence. This level of habituation can lead to repeated conflicts between bears and humans, as noted by wildlife officials.
Bear sightings are not uncommon in Lake City, though only eight bear activity reports had been made in the county this year prior to the attack. This incident marks the first reported bear attack in Colorado in 2024; last year, there were six incidents. Since 1960, the state has seen 96 reported bear attacks on humans.
While bear attacks are rare, the National Park Service emphasizes the importance of knowing how to react. In the case of a charging grizzly or brown bear, experts advise playing dead. However, for black bears, the guidance is clear: “Fight with everything you have.”