A Northern California couple is recovering from serious injuries after a black bear attacked them outside their Trinity County home in the early hours of Sept. 19, and their French bulldog died after intervening to protect them.
Jeff and Mallory Wilson were asleep when their dog, Cassie, let out a single bark. Jeff Wilson went to check the backyard of their off-the-grid property. When he opened the door, a cinnamon-colored black bear emerged from behind patio furniture and lunged at him, knocking him to the floor.
The commotion woke Mallory Wilson, who went outside and was also attacked. During the struggle, Cassie threw herself between Jeff Wilson and the bear, which grabbed the dog in its mouth and began to run off with her. The couple managed to get the bear to drop Cassie and eventually scared it away.
Despite their own wounds, the Wilsons rushed Cassie to emergency veterinary care. The dog underwent surgery for multiple wounds, including along her spine, but died two days after the attack, according to a GoFundMe page organized by a longtime friend. The page described Cassie as «a deeply loved member of their family.»
Jeff Wilson suffered two broken ribs and numerous bite and claw wounds. Mallory Wilson sustained serious injuries to her head and face, along with other bite and puncture wounds. Both face continued medical treatment and recovery, the fundraising page said.
The Wilsons own Radio Ranch, an off-the-grid glamping retreat in Trinity County. They have years of experience living and working alongside wildlife and take precautions to coexist peacefully with animals on their land, according to the GoFundMe. The couple told KRON4 they chose rural Northern California because they treasure being surrounded by the natural world.
«This was an unprovoked and extraordinarily unusual encounter that none of us could have anticipated,» the Wilsons said. They added that they can grieve Cassie and be devastated while still respecting the wild animals that belong in these places.
Jeff Wilson told local news outlets he believes the bear may have been startled after becoming cornered between a fence and gate at their home. «I think the bear was startled by us just as much as we were startled by it,» he told the news site Redheaded Blackbelt.
The attack has led the Wilsons to cancel Radio Ranch reservations while they recover and cooperate with an ongoing investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The fundraiser aims to cover medical bills, veterinary costs, property damage and the expense of hiring help during their recovery. As of Saturday afternoon, it had raised more than $16,000 of its $20,000 goal.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said black bear attacks that injure humans are rare in the state. The agency advises residents to secure food and garbage that can attract bears, keep pets indoors at night when possible, and fight back rather than play dead if a black bear attacks.
The incident is the latest in several high-profile bear encounters this year, including black bear break-ins around California's Lake Tahoe region and separate grizzly attacks involving a hiker in Glacier National Park and a Montana hunter.