Woman attacked by black bear in Wisconsin is ID’d, hospitalized in Twin Cities in critical condition

A black bear attack over the weekend in rural Wisconsin sent a woman to a Twin Cities hospital with severe injuries, officials said.

The incident occurred about 2 p.m. Saturday near the town of Comstock in Barron County, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The victim, a 69-year-old woman, was able to call 911 despite the injuries suffered in her yard and was soon taken by emergency responders to a hospital in nearby Cumberland.

“Due to the severity of the injuries, [the woman was] transferred to Regions Hospital in St. Paul,” a DNR statement read.

A Regions Hospital spokeswoman said Karen Frye was in critical condition Monday afternoon.

Personnel with various local, state and federal agencies “began looking for the bear, and at that time they located a cub in a tree indicating this involved a sow and cub,” the DNR statement continued.

The DNR says on its website that incidents of black bears attacking humans are “very rare” but do occur both in Wisconsin and across the country. No fatalities from encounters with wild black bears have occurred in recorded Wisconsin history.

“Black bears are generally secretive, not aggressive and tend to avoid humans as much as possible but bears are sometimes known to be aggressive if cubs are present and feel threatened,” the DNR’s website points out.

DNR wardens, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff and a trained bear hound dog attempted to track the bear, but the search was unsuccessful, according to the DNR.

“Efforts to capture the bear are ongoing,” the DNR statement noted. “Several bear traps have been set, and a sheriff’s [deputy] is stationed at the scene. The goal is to euthanize the bear and assess its condition.”

The reason for the bear attacking the woman has yet to be determined, the DNR said.

The DNR offers various tips for people who encounter a bear while hiking, hunting or camping.

The don’ts: Never approach a bear, and do not run, lie down or play dead.

The do’s: Talk to the bear or start shouting if it doesn’t leave; raise your arms above your head and wave them to appear larger than you are; slowly back away and don’t turn your back on the bear; always leave an escape route for the bear; fight back if attacked.

Wisconsin is home to a thriving black bear population estimated at more than 24,000, according to the DNR. Its primary range is in the far northern third of the state, which includes Barron County.

Wisconsin hunters took 4,432 black bears during the 2024 season. This was 47.5% greater than the 2023 total of 3,005.