COMSTOCK, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating after a 69-year-old woman was attacked by a black bear near the town of Comstock in Barron County.
The victim reported the attack around 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12. She was able to call 911 and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The victim's condition is currently unknown.
Officers from Barron County and the city of Cumberland initially responded to the 911 call. Local DNR wardens and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services staff also responded to the incident. Upon arrival, they began looking for the bear and at that time they located a cub in a tree indicating this involved a sow and cub.
DNR wardens and USDA Wildlife Services staff attempted to track the bear with the aid of a trained bear hound dog, but the search was unsuccessful.
Efforts to capture the bear are ongoing. Several bear traps have been set at the scene. The goal is to euthanize the bear and assess its condition.
It is unknown why the attack occurred. DNR wardens continue to investigate the incident to learn more details and a possible cause.
No other information on this specific incident is available at this time, and staff are unavailable to provide interviews. The DNR's Office of Communications will release new information as it becomes available.
[Photo: Black Bear stock photo]
Last Update: Jul 13, 2025 1:32 pm CDT
