Connecticut woman attacked by black bear while walking dog

A 74-year-old Connecticut woman was attacked by a black bear while out walking her dog last week, according to state authorities.

Officials with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said that the woman suffered minor injuries when she was bitten in her arms and legs by the black bear near the town of Avon.

The woman, whom authorities did not name, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Authorities found the female bear soon after and “humanely euthanized” the creature, which DEEP officials said was 12 years old and weighed 250 pounds. The bear’s remains will be tested for rabies.

“It could have been just the general reaction bears have to dogs, whether they’re leashed or not,” Jenny Dickson, the director of DEEP’s wildlife division, said during a Friday press conference.

She also said that it was trash collection day in the area, meaning the bear could have been searching for food.

“It could have been that she was taking advantage of tasty meals and said, ‘I don’t want anybody near me when I’m getting my food,’” Ms. Dickson went on.

This is the second bear to be euthanized by state authorities in the past week after a bear was put down for breaking into multiple homes in Salisbury.

The state has seen more interactions between humans and bears in recent years, according to Connecticut’s State of Bears report.

Last year, bears were spotted in 158 of the state’s 169 towns and cities.  

— This article is based in part on wire service reports.