By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
State wildlife officials say a bear that attacked a man at a campground in Eldorado National Forest has been shot and killed by wardens.
A spokeswoman for the California Department of Fish and Game says after dogs tracked the bear, wardens shot it around 6:15 p.m. this evening.
The man required stitches for his wounds.
Frank Mosbacher, Forest Service spokesman, said Forest Service law enforcement officers reported this morning that the attack occurred between 2:30 and 3 a.m. The man, whose name and age were not available, had stepped outside his camper. When someone inside the camper shined a light outside, illuminating the bear, the bear swatted the man.
At some point, someone fired a gun at the bear, but Mosbacher said Fish and Game officers don't think the bear was shot.
Mosbacher said the bear was described as about 1 year old and weighing about 150 pounds. The animal was going from picnic table to picnic table looking for food and is believed to have visited the campground in the past.
"So it has become somewhat habituated to humans," Mosbacher said.
Campers in Yellowjacket and neighboring campgrounds have been informed of the attack. Bear boxes are not available at those sites, Mosbacher said, but people are advised to at least try to hide their food in an effort not to attract bears.
"There's no guarantee that will work," he said, "because they have a pretty good sense of smell."
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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