66-year-old Mariposa County man fights off bear at home

It happened in the 5000 block of Colorado Road in Midpines, a community located about 20 miles southwest of Yosemite Valley.

Wildlife authorities say a 67-year-old California man fought off a black bear that attacked him from behind then drove himself to a hospital. The drought, Stoots said, will push bears to go to “great lengths to find food and water”.

A search continues for the bear, which will likely be euthanized due to the significance and persistence of the attack, Stoots said.

The man survived the attack but suffered numerous cuts to his arms, legs and body, as well as defensive wounds to his hands, said Lt. Chris Stoots of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They said he is stable and has received his first round of rabies and antibiotic treatments. He was allowed to return home after just a few hours at the hospital.

“If and when the bear is found, it will be humanely destroyed because of the severity of the attack”, Traverso said.

The large California black bear struck the man from behind, knocking him to the ground, according to a news release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The office is warning residents in the area to be aware of their surroundings and to keep an eye on children and pets. Should people encounter a bear, they are asked to stay away and call 911 immediately. Neighbors have reported their trash cans knocked over but this is the first attack on a person.