Bear Attack Injures 2 Outside Idaho Home, Officials Say

Two people were injured in a bear attack outside their home in Idaho early Friday, according to state wildlife officials and local authorities. The incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. in the Sunset Heights subdivision near Salmon, a small town with a population of just over 3,000.

Authorities said the victims were outside their residence when the attack occurred. KTVB-TV reported that the pair were on their porch at the time. Idaho Fish and Game said one of the injured people was flown by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. Details on the extent of both victims’ injuries were not immediately provided.

After being notified by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Fish and Game said it activated its Wildlife Human Attack Response Team to secure the area and respond to the incident. The agency later located the bear involved, along with its sibling and what officials believed was their mother.

Using a professional houndsman to track the animals, authorities euthanized all three bears. Officials did not release additional identifying details about the bears beyond describing the attacking animal as a young bear.

Safety warnings after the attack

In the aftermath, the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office urged residents to reduce attractants around their homes. In a public message Friday, the office said people should remove outdoor food smells, secure possible entry points and use deterrents on their property to help keep bears away from houses.

Idaho Fish and Game also issued practical advice for homeowners in bear country. The department said residents should secure food and trash, lock up garbage, clean outdoor grills, remove bird feeders and pet food left outside, manage fruit trees, block access points, keep windows and doors closed and consider deterrent mats.

The recommendations reflect a broader strategy often used in communities where bears and people live in close proximity. Food odors, unsecured garbage and other easy sources of calories can draw bears into residential areas, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters.

Another recent Idaho encounter

The attack near Salmon follows another reported bear encounter in Idaho earlier this year. In July, a jogger running with his dog in a state park in Fremont County, southeast of Lemhi County, was attacked by a bear. Officials said the jogger was able to walk out on his own, and his dog was not injured.

In that case, the bear was not found. While the two incidents happened in different parts of the state, both underscore the challenges wildlife agencies face when responding to sudden encounters between bears and people.

Friday’s attack has also renewed attention on how quickly these situations can develop, particularly in the early morning hours and in neighborhoods close to wildlife habitat. For residents in bear country, officials say prevention remains one of the most important steps.

That means limiting anything that could attract a bear, from overflowing trash bins to food residue on grills or pet dishes left outdoors overnight. Authorities have not announced further details about the victims, but the response from wildlife officers and the sheriff’s office signals the seriousness with which such attacks are treated in Idaho communities near bear habitat.