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Bear euthanized by Division of Wildlife

By Danielle Leigh
Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 9:37 p.m.

Read more: Local, State, Community, Strange, Outdoors, Bear, Santa Fe Trail, Woman, Hit by Car, Chased, Black Bear, Pregnant, Colorado Springs, Woodmen, Danielle Leigh, Colorado Springs, Animals

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A pregnant woman was chased by a bear and then hit by a car while running away on Thursday.

Ashley Swendsen, 26, was walking on Santa Fe Trail near Woodmen Road and I-25 when a bear approached her.

She ran away and Division of Wildlife (DOW) officials found the bear in a nearby neighborhood. It was euthanized.

Swendsen wasn't seriously hurt in the accident nor was the baby she's been carrying for five months.

"I was worried, but I was so out of it from escaping the bear I wasn't thinking," said Swendsen.

It was the first time Swendsen had seen a bear, and that bear had gotten uncomfortably close.

"I heard a rustle behind me and a bear came out of the creek, and it was about two feet away from me. It started following me and I started running," Swendsen said.

An acquaintance saw Swendsen and called police. Police notified the DOW, and officers found the American black bear in a nearby neighborhood off of Dublin Blvd.

"It's become habituated and for whatever reason has decided to approach a human, and so we need to remove that bear as a human safety precaution," said wildlife manager Shaun Deeney.

"It seems unfair that since it spared me it has to die now," Swendsen said.

Swendsen plans to thank the bear for sparing her life by promoting awareness about wild bears, especially ones that venture into the city.

"I just figured that since it had to give its life for me that I should protect bears in the future," Swendsen said.

As for the lady who hit Swendsen, if police find her she will be charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run.

Swendsen said she will never walk that path alone again.

DOW officials said most bears are out of hibernation by now. Those that aren't will be in the next couple of weeks.

With this incident in mind, there are several things DOW said the public should know about American black bears:

*  These bears are generally timid and do not like confrontation.

*  When seeing one, do not run, back away slowly and talk to the bear.

*  If it attacks, fight back. Wildlife experts say the bear will typically back down.

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4 Comments on this Story
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Why euthanize?

Posted by Dale Archer, Crested Butte, CO - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.

Why coudn't the "authorities" trap and re-locate this bear? Killing this bear was uncalled for! Is there an investigation underway?

twitand bear attack

Posted by lizzie popp, colorado springs - Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.

i must add a post-script to my previous comment. i live in the same neighborhood where this alleged "attack " took place. a few years ago, i encountered a bear while on a walk with my dog early one morning. we backed away, keeping the bear in view. it took a few steps towards us, "woofed", and then went back to raiding the garbage it was originally occupied with. we hurried (did not run) back the way we came. when i got home, i called the division of wildlife to report the sighting. the response was ,"are you sure it wasn't a big dog?" i was a little offended because i am 50+ years old and certainly know what a bear looks like. no signs were put up warning of a bear in the area. this bear was obviously not afraid of humans and was comfortable around their homes. so my question has to be....... why did the division of wildlife euthanize this particular bear and took no action with my report? media attention? most likely. i suppose if i had run screaming down the street and caused a traffic hazard they may have done something. an interesting situation to ponder........

WHAT?

Posted by **** ********, California - Friday, April 24, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.

I really don't think the author of this article solicited your spelling corrections. If you MUST point out people's mistakes, I suggest you go teach a spelling class where you have been asked for your scrutiny. Why do at home self-appointed editors want to get on sites like this and try to act as tho anyone wants their corrections? Find something else to do.

Spelling

Posted by Spell Master, CO Springs - Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 10:19 p.m.

in the lady's quote, i think you mean "since" .. not "sense"

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