A group of three teenage hikers from Thomas Jefferson High School was attacked by a black bear on Tuesday afternoon while hiking the Mount Si trail in the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area, about 35 miles southeast of Seattle.
The encounter occurred around 12:45 p.m. when the group reached a point roughly 2.7 miles up the trail and came across a black bear with her cubs, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.
The mother bear charged the group and swiped at one of the teens, leaving scratch marks on the teenager. Another boy injured his ankle while fleeing.
“His injuries were very minor, but he was of course terrified. The bear tossed him around a little bit, but nothing serious. He’s on his way to the hospital right now to be checked out, get the wounds clean, and maybe get some antibiotics,” Peter Linde, a King County sheriff’s office deputy, told KING of Seattle.
The injured teen was released from the hospital at 9 p.m. local time Tuesday, officials said.
Sara Autio, information officer with King County Search and Rescue, commended the group’s response. “We are grateful to have played a role in bringing these students home, I’m sure they didn’t expect this to be the way their day unfolded, but as first-time hikers they did a lot right here – they hiked in a group, they had communications devices to be able to call 911 for help, and they cooperated with emergency responders,” she said in a statement.
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said a separate group of hikers reported being followed by a black bear on the same trail for several miles. Officials closed the Mount Si trail while they search for the bear. In a statement, the agency said they would have to kill the bear if they found it, adding that relocation would be the least harmful outcome.
According to the department, the only recorded human fatality from a black bear in Washington occurred in 1974. Since 1970, state officials have documented 20 black bear encounters that resulted in a human injury, with the most recent case before Tuesday taking place in 2022. The agency estimates there are roughly 22,000 black bears across Washington.
The department offers guidance to hikers who encounter a black bear: “If a bear walks toward you, identify yourself as a human by standing up, waving your hands above your head, and talking in a low voice. Back away, avoiding direct eye contact. Don’t run from a bear.” Officials also recommend making noise, leashing pets, carrying bear spray, and staying aware of surroundings to avoid startling a bear.