Man Hurt in Surprise Bear Run-In at Apartment Complex

A routine trip to the laundry room turned into a run-in with a bear in Colorado. Wildlife officials say a man in the Eagle-Vail area, about 100 miles west of Denver, was scratched on the arm by a female black bear as he exited an apartment complex's laundry room on Monday, per ABC News. He also tripped and hurt his foot while trying to get away. A relative drove him to a medical facility, where he was treated and released; he's now recuperating at home.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the encounter highlights a broader problem: more bear activity in neighborhoods as drought limits natural food sources, and late-summer feeding ramps up ahead of hibernation season. Wildlife officers stayed in the area overnight and set a trap, aiming to capture the sow and her cubs, which have reportedly been rummaging through dumpsters.

Residents are urged to secure trash, keep pet food inside, and avoid feeding or approaching bears. USA Today also has further tips on how to react when encountering black bears (yell, wave your arms, and stand your ground, in general), as opposed to encountering grizzly or brown bears (play dead, "but if the attack persists, then fight back with everything you have").