By The newspaper
25 Oct 2023, 21:10 PM EDT
In a bizarre incident, a “surprised” bear attacked a security guard inside the kitchen of a luxury resort in Aspen. The event occurred last Monday night, leaving both the victim and the resort staff amazed by the bear’s sudden aggression.
Colorado wildlife officials provided information in a news release about the attack and emphasized ongoing conflicts between humans and bears in the region.
Following reports of a bear roaming the grounds of the St. Regis Aspen Resort, the security guard on duty began an investigation to determine the presence of the bear in the resort’s kitchen.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife described the encounter in the statement. When the guard turned a corner of the kitchen, he “surprised the bear,” prompting the animal to quickly attack. The bear hit the guard and knocked him to the ground.
Fortunately, the security guard managed to escape the bear’s reach and quickly called 911 for help. Law enforcement arrived on the scene and an ambulance transported the injured guard to a local hospital, where he was treated for scratches on his back.
While the guard was released from the hospital Tuesday morning, officials did not provide specific details about his condition.
Bear Search in Colorado and Safety Measures
In response to the incident, wildlife officers arrived at the luxury resort shortly after midnight to locate and tackle the bear. However, due to public safety concerns, they were unable to safely tranquilize and capture the bear. The search for the bear, which had created chaos in the complex, continues.
Investigators determined that the bear entered the hotel “through a series of doors near the patio,” highlighting the challenges bears pose in urban areas like Aspen.
Colorado has seen an increase in human-bear conflicts due to the increase in outdoor activities such as camping and wilderness hunting. Recent incidents have raised the alarm about interactions with bears in the region.
Earlier this month, a mother bear and her cub were tragically killed when it attacked two young children in Colorado Springs. In Montana, a 73-year-old woman was hospitalized after a bear attack west of Glacier National Park.
The escalation of bear encounters is evident in several states, including Montana and Canada. A hunter in Montana was severely mauled by a grizzly bear in September, while a couple and their dog met a tragic end in Canada due to a bear attack.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service highlights the role of “unsafe attractants, such as trash and human food” in most human-bear conflicts. To reduce these encounters, he advises maintaining a distance of at least 100 meters from a bear, never leaving food accessible to bears, and refraining from running if confronted by one.
Keep reading:
· Mother bear euthanized after attacking two children in Colorado; a puppy also died
· 73-year-old woman is attacked by a bear while walking on the US-Canada border
· Grizzly bear attack claims two lives in Canada’s Banff National Park