Press Release by Sierra County Sheriff’s Office

CALPINE — On Saturday, December 9, 2023, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a Calpine resident who was bitten by a bear the previous night. The resident reported that on the preceding night, he had let his dog outside to go to the bathroom. The dog immediately took off, prompting him to go outside. While outside, a bear emerged from his neighbor’s yard and charged at him. Regrettably, the bear did not stop, and the Calpine resident sustained bites on his hand, wrist, and leg.

After getting away from the bear, he hurried back into the house, where he retrieved a shotgun. Fearing for his dog's safety, the resident went outside and ultimately shot the bear while it was in a standoff with his dog. The victim then sought medical attention at the hospital, where he received treatment for his bite wounds but did not require hospitalization.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified and immediately responded to investigate the incident. During their investigation, the bear, wounded from the gunshot the previous night, was located. Fish and Wildlife officials euthanized the bear and transported it to Sacramento for a necropsy and rabies testing.

For additional information on human-wildlife conflicts with black bears, please visit: https://wildlife.ca.gov/HWC/Black-Bears