Barron County Woman Attacked by Black Bear Near Comstock

BARRON COUNTY, Wis (WCFW / WHSM / WLAK) – A Barron County woman was injured after being attacked by a black bear near the town of Comstock over the weekend.

According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the attack occurred at around 2 p.m. on Saturday. The victim was able to escape the bear to call 911. First responders took her to a local hospital for treatment.

Law enforcement authorities from Barron County and the city of Cumberland began searching for the bear following the attack. DNR wardens and U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff assisted in the search with a trained bear hound dog, but their efforts were unsuccessful. They did locate a black bear cub in a nearby tree.

After failing to locate the bear responsible for the attack, officials began setting traps in the area. They plan to euthanize the bear and assess its condition if they’re able to find it. The circumstances that caused the bear to attack are still unknown.

The Wisconsin DNR has been warning residents to be on the lookout for black bears over recent weeks. The bears are currently in their mating season, which means they could be expanding their territories in search of a mate. They could also be covering up to 25 to 30 square miles a day in search of food.

Residents can also take some precautions to keep bears from exploring their properties in their search for food, like taking down bird feeders, thoroughly cleaning their outdoor grills, and keeping pet food inside. DNR data shows approximately 24,000 bears in the state with a heavier presence in the northern counties.