A young bear attacked two people on the porch of their home in a small Idaho town early Friday morning, injuring both and prompting a helicopter medical evacuation for one of the victims, according to Idaho Fish and Game.
The attack occurred around 3:30 a.m. in the Sunset Heights subdivision near Salmon, a community of just over 3,000 residents in Lemhi County. One of the injured was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for treatment. Details on the condition of either victim were not immediately released.
Idaho Fish and Game said it was notified by the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office and deployed its Wildlife Human Attack Response Team to secure the scene. Using a professional houndsman, authorities located the bear responsible along with its sibling and what was believed to be their mother. All three animals were euthanized.
The department and the sheriff's office issued guidance to residents on how to reduce the risk of bears being drawn to homes. Officials advised removing outdoor food smells, securing all potential entry points, and using deterrents around properties. Specific recommendations included locking up garbage, cleaning outdoor grills, removing bird feeders and outdoor pet food, managing fruit trees, blocking entry points, keeping windows and doors shut, and using deterrent mats.
«To prevent bears from coming into your house, you must remove outdoor food smells, secure all potential entry points, and use deterrents around your property,» the sheriff's office said.
The attack is not the first bear encounter in the region this year. In July, a jogger and his dog were attacked by a bear in a state park in Fremont County, southeast of Lemhi County. The jogger was able to walk out on his own, and his dog was not hurt. That bear was never found.
Bear activity in residential areas tends to rise when natural food sources are scarce or when human-provided food attracts animals closer to homes. Idaho Fish and Game maintains a response team specifically trained to handle human-wildlife conflicts, particularly attacks involving large predators. The euthanization of the three bears reflects standard practice when animals pose a continued threat to public safety, though wildlife officials often note that removing food attractants is the most effective long-term prevention.
Residents in the Salmon area were urged to remain vigilant and report any bear sightings to authorities. The investigation into Friday's attack is ongoing, and no further details about the victims have been released.