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A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Marathon

Rockinruby

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Dec 27, 2013
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I was saddened to read this especially after the recent alligator attack. In this case, it seems the bear was protecting her cub. :confused:

A Woman Was Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Marathon

https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniem...ing-a-marathon?utm_term=.ns3qGl5k5#.hhp1KOBaB

Karen Williams was running in the Valles Caldera Runs Marathon on Saturday when she encountered the bear.
The race, which also included a 10K and a half marathon, took place along the trails of the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

In a post on Facebook, Williams wrote she was about 23.5 miles into the race when she crested a hill.
When she got to the top, she noticed the bear charging at her. Williams said she also saw a cub, leading her to believe the bear was a female protecting her young.

“Then I was on my ass and being raked with claws and bitten,” she wrote. “I cried out in pain and mama bear did not like that so she hit me with a left hook and bit my neck and started to try to shake me.”

Williams said she played dead until the bear and her cub grew disinterested in her and left.

Williams was rescued by other runners and marathon staff, who called 911, according to race director Kristen Kern.
“I have a fractured right orbit from the mean left hook, missing parts of eyelid and eyebrow, injury to the belly of my left bicep and a lot of punctures and lacerations,” Williams said. “But I am alive.”

Williams’ husband, Mike Engelhardt, wrote on Facebook that she is doing well and will make a full recovery.
Officers with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, meanwhile, tracked and euthanized the female black bear.

In a statement, the department said officials are required to euthanize the bear in order to check for rabies.
“It is regrettable when a wildlife encounter results in human injuries and requires we euthanize the animal,” the department’s director, Alexandra Sandoval, said. “We are thankful that the injuries sustained by the victim were not worse and are hopeful that she is able to recover quickly.” Officials are now looking for the cubs, so they can bring them to a local wildlife center.
 
Q

Queenie60

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

I'm sad for all involved. Sad for the innocent women who was mauled; sad for the mother bear who was simply protecting her cubs and most of all, sad for the cubs who probably will not understand what happened to their mother. What a shame for all involved. :((
 

missy

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

Heartbreaking. :cry: :cry: :cry:

I am glad the woman is OK thank goodness.
And this is so unfair to the baby cub and momma bear to euthanize the momma bear for just protecting her baby. I think I understand why they feel the need to euthanize but I am not sure it is necessary.

Can't the woman who was attacked by the bear undergo the series of rabies vaccinations as if she was exposed to rabies just in case and then let the park officials observe the momma bear to see if she is behaving erratically? If she is behaving erratically then euthanize but if she isn't allow her to nurse her cubs and live out her life in peace? Most likely she does not have rabies and was just protecting her cub.

Arghhh so upsetting. Once again humans making life unsustainable for the wildlife whose habitats we are invading. :cry: :cry: :cry:
 

stracci2000

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

i'm just disgusted with humans in general..................

The lady was in the bears yard, not the other way around.

And she got out of it in pretty good shape.
This happened in my state, and the newspaper said that there is a state law that if any wild animal bites a human, it must be put down.
Of course the woman feels bad, and has said so publicly.
 

Loves Vintage

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

I think it is pretty common in some areas for bears to be shot just for going near areas where humans are. There was a tv show where a woman tried to help these bears. I think it was in CA. Does anyone recall?
 

Rockinruby

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

Loves Vintage|1466518578|4046282 said:
I think it is pretty common in some areas for bears to be shot just for going near areas where humans are. There was a tv show where a woman tried to help these bears. I think it was in CA. Does anyone recall?

The news article I read said it was in Northern New Mexico. I believe she was taken to a hospital in Albuquerque. Thank goodness she survived, but it is incredibly sad for the bear to be euthanized.
 

Matata

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

Unfortunate timing for both bear and runner. She's lucky she survived. I've seen black bears turning over small boulders and huge tree stumps like they were made from tissue paper. I'm surprised that the runners weren't made to wear bells to scare off bears and cougars. It's possible that the marathon organizers didn't think about the time of year for mommas and cubs to be out roaming but they would have had to work with park personnel to organize the run and the rangers would be familiar with what was happening with the bear population.
 

LLJsmom

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Re: A Woman Mauled By A Bear In The Middle Of Running A Mara

Hmmm...think I'll be avoiding trail runs for a while....
 
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