This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A hiker was attacked by a bear in the Angeles National Forest yesterday, and lived to tell his harrowing tale.
Dan Richman, 54, told KTLA that he was about 2 miles along the Mount Wilson Trail near Bailey Canyon in Sierra Madre on what he had intended to be a short hike. That's when he encountered a bear reared up on its hind legs. He began to slowly back away from the bear when a second bear that had been on his left attacked. Richman began screaming, hoping it would scare the bear away, but just as he thought the 200 to 300 lb. animal was backing off, it grabbed him.
"He grabbed my wrist. Grabbed my upper leg. He actually put his mouth around my neck. And I just stayed really, really still. I just didn't move. On my hands, on my knees," Richman said.
Richman remained still, and eventually got off of him and wandered off. When Richman felt like the bear was a safe distance away, he got up and sprinted back down the trail. Richman sustained numerous slashes all over his body, as well as a head wound. Luckily for Richman, the bear's bite just missed a tendon on his leg.
Dan Richman: "bear's mouth was around my neck, might not get thru this" about surviving attack #SierraMadre @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/BOmJ0wLfXW
— JASMINE VIEL (@jasmineviel) October 11, 2016
Officials are using swabs from Richman's clothes to try to locate the bears, but haven't found them yet. If the bear that attacked Richman is captured, it is possible that it will be euthanized, according to ABC 7.
Bear attacks and even sightings are typically rare on the trail, according to Sierra Madre Police Chief Larry Giannone. A post on Sierra Madre's Facebook page said that they do not believe that the bears are a threat to the residents, "as this is well into the mountain area." Bailey Canyon and Mount Wilson trails have been closed until further notice.
