Woman injured by black bear near Nisswa, Minnesota

St. Paul — The DNR reported during the Memorial Day weekend that a woman was treated and released from a hospital after being injured by a black bear near Nisswa in the early morning of May 26.

The woman was staying at a cabin near Gull Lake, according to the DNR’s news release, and let her dog outside shortly after midnight. She went into the yard to check on the dog and the bear swiped at her, striking her in several places. The bear left the immediate area after the incident, the DNR’s release states.

The woman’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

Prior to this incident, there had been no reported complaints of bear activity in the area this spring. DNR Wildlife staff believe the bear likely was startled by the quick appearance of the dog in the middle of the night and then swatted the woman as a way to defend itself, the release says.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office assisted the DNR with the incident. DNR conservation officers continued to monitor the area for bears that might pose a threat to public safety.

The sheriff’s office offered the following statement:

“Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reports that on May 26, 2023, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an adult female, age 65, of Minneapolis, that was attacked by a black bear during the previous evening at a cabin in Fairview Township, rural Nisswa, resulting in injury and medical treatment. The investigation indicated that the female had let their dog outside around midnight on May 25, when she heard the dog having a confrontation with something. She went outside to bring the dog in and encountered a black bear. She was struck by the bear in the chest and arm and knocked to the ground. Family members heard the struggle and were able to scare the bear from the victim and yard. The victim was taken to a Brainerd hospital, receiving treatment for injuries to her shoulder, chest, and back area from the struggle.”

Black bears are rarely aggressive, and attacks on people are uncommon, the DNR’s release states. Since 1987, this is the 10th bear attack involving serious injuries to a person that the DNR has documented. None has caused human death. Most of the encounters involve either attractants (birdseed, trash, or some other food source) or dogs. Bears that feel comfortable living near people may become more unpredictable when faced with a stressful situation, such as a dog showing up unexpectedly.

Each year in North America, there are thousands of interactions between people and black bears without incident.

People should avoid attracting bears to their property. Important measures at residences include removing sources of food such as bird feeders, feeding pets indoors, storing trash in bear-proof containers, and keeping barbecue grills clean.

For more tips on what to do in a bear encounter, go to mndnr.gov/bearsafety or bearwise.org/bear-safety-tips/bear-encounter/.