A black bear and a cub were euthanized Monday after the bear attacked and injured a man as he opened his garage door in Idaho, wildlife officials said.
After the bear attacked the man at his home in the Henderson County, Idaho area, he called Idaho Fish and Game who, along with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, “immediately responded to the scene to locate the offending bears,” the department said on its website.
“The sow and cub were located in the vicinity and were lethally removed in the interest of public safety,” Idaho Fish and Game said.
Officials said bear attacks are uncommon, but it’s important to be aware of the animals since both grizzly and black bears live in the state.
How to minimize chances of having a bear encounter
Officials said most conflicts with bears “occur from July through September and are linked to careless handling of food and garbage,” Idaho Fish and Game said.
Here are tips to minimize the chances of a bear causing problems near your home, according to the department.
- Keep garbage in bear-resistant containers or in a closed building.
- Empty and remove bird feeders during the summer months.
- Clean up fruit that has fallen in your yard.
- Feed pets inside or during daylight hours. Don’t leave pet food or food scraps outside of your home.
- Store horse and livestock grains inside closed barns.
- Keep barbeque grills stored in closed buildings.
