A reported bear attack Saturday night on a 57-year old man near Central Point is unsubstantiated based upon an initial response and investigation by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) and Oregon State Police (OSP).
On September 20, 2014 at approximately 9:37 p.m., Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) received a 9-1-1 call from a 57-year old man reporting he saw two cub bears outside his residence on Grant Road near Central Point. While outside, he claimed he was attacked by a large sow protecting the cubs. The man was transported to a local hospital in Medford before an OSP trooper and Jackson County SO deputy were able to arrive to investigate the report and interview the man.
The man was later contacted at the hospital and a statement obtained. An OSP Fish & Wildlife Division lieutenant and ODFW biologist believe, based upon the information received at this time and their follow up response to the man's property, that there was not enough conclusive evidence to substantiate the man's claims. There are no independent witnesses to the reported incident.
ODFW has tips on their website regarding bears at:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
On September 20, 2014 at approximately 9:37 p.m., Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) received a 9-1-1 call from a 57-year old man reporting he saw two cub bears outside his residence on Grant Road near Central Point. While outside, he claimed he was attacked by a large sow protecting the cubs. The man was transported to a local hospital in Medford before an OSP trooper and Jackson County SO deputy were able to arrive to investigate the report and interview the man.
The man was later contacted at the hospital and a statement obtained. An OSP Fish & Wildlife Division lieutenant and ODFW biologist believe, based upon the information received at this time and their follow up response to the man's property, that there was not enough conclusive evidence to substantiate the man's claims. There are no independent witnesses to the reported incident.
ODFW has tips on their website regarding bears at:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###