SULTAN, Wash. A woman was hospitalized with significant injuries after a bear attacked her while she walked her dog near her Snohomish County home Sunday morning, KOMO reported.
The attack happened just before 8 a.m. in the 49400 block of Index Galena Road near Highway 2. According to a lieutenant with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the woman told authorities she had her back turned when the bear pushed her to the ground, climbed on top of her and began biting and clawing at her.
WDFW told KOMO the woman did nothing to provoke the attack, and crews are checking whether any bear attractants were present in the area.
Lt. Erik Olson of WDFW police called the attack incredibly rare, saying that in 22 years on the job he could count on one hand the number of similar attacks he has seen.
Officers spent several hours Sunday searching for the bear using hounds and other tools. Although the woman reported seeing only the bear that attacked her, Olson said crews at the scene also observed what may have been the animal's cub. A bear trap was set near where the attack happened, and crews will continue to monitor the area.
Olson said public safety is the agency's primary concern, and that when a person is attacked by wildlife, WDFW will make every effort to capture the animal. If the bear is found, the agency will decide on next steps, which could include moving it to another location or tagging it.
The Sultan Police Department urged residents to stay alert and to remain indoors if they see the bear or her cub, warning people not to approach, disturb or interact with the animals. Sightings can be reported to the Sultan Police Department non-emergency line at 425-407-3999 or to WDFW at 360-902-2936.