- A 12-year-old girl in Michigan was seriously injured and played dead to survive
- A hunter in Alaska survived 36 hours in the remote wilderness after he was attacked
- Bear attacks usually occur when a sow is protecting her cubs
- This is the time of year when bear encounters are more common, an expert says
(CNN) -- Bears rarely attack humans unless they feel threatened or territorial. But a 12-year-old girl jogging in Michigan is among the latest victims in a spate of bear attacks that has left seven people mauled in five states since Thursday.
Wildlife officials are running tests on a bear they killed to see if it's the same one that mauled Abby Wetherell on Thursday evening. The girl from Cadillac, Michigan, was out on her nightly jog when she was ambushed by a black bear.
"On her way back this time, a bear just kind of came out of nowhere and attacked her from behind, knocked her to the ground," her mother Elizabeth Wetherell told CNN affiliate WXMI.
Abby tried to get up, but the bear kept charging.
"At that point, she didn't know what to do because she had been injured severely and couldn't get up, so she decided ... to just lay there and play dead."
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Boozing bear wanders into a bar Authorities also reported attacks in Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho.
The Michigan incident, was an anomaly, officials said.
Michigan has an estimated black bear population of 8,000 to 10,000 but has only about two bear-to-human incidents a year, said Ed Golder with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
"Black bears are generally fearful of humans and will usually leave if they become aware that people are present," the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said. "Bear attacks on human beings are highly unusual, and in most cases occur because a sow is protecting her cubs. However, there is no evidence that cubs were present where the attack on Abby occurred."
After the bear left, Abby ran toward a neighbor's house, screaming for help. The bear came after her once again, but neighbors were able to scare it away.
Abby suffered deep cuts in her thigh and underwent surgery. She is recovering at home.
On Saturday, conservation officers shot and killed a bear about two miles from where the attack took place. The state agency is testing DNA samples to see if it's the same bear and has also set up bear traps in hopes of catching the bear.
In other incidents:
Alaska: Hunter mauled
A hunter mauled by a bear in Alaska survived 36 hours in the remote wilderness before rescuers found him using night-vision goggles, the Alaska National Guard said Saturday.
The man, who was part of a guided hunting party, was attacked about 35 miles north of Anaktuvuk Pass. Helicopter rescue teams tried to reach the man several times, but had to turn back due to dense fog and weather, the Guard said.
The hunter suffered significant blood loss but was stabilized by a medical professional who happened to be in another hunting group, the Guard said.
"The pararescuemen credit him for saving the man's life. He provided expert care with limited resource for several hours, ultimately stabilizing, warming and rehydrating the victim," Air Force Master Sgt. Armando Soria said.
Around 3 a.m. Saturday, a helicopter managed to land at the scene. Crews had to use night-vision goggles because they were operating during the darkest time of night, the Alaska National guard said.
The man was in stable condition.
Colorado: Camper bit
A bear clawed its way into a tent and bit a sleeping camper in her arm Thursday night, CNN affiliate KCNC reported.
The woman suffered puncture wounds but was not seriously injured. She called for help, and the bear ran away, KCNC said.
Wyoming: Hikers attacked
Two hikers at Yellowstone National Park were injured Thursday after the encountered a female grizzly bear and a cub. The sow charged the hikers, leaving claw and bite marks on one, park officials said.
The sow and cub left after the hikers sprayed their cans of bear spray.
"Yellowstone bear biologists say the sow's behavior is consistent with purely defensive actions taken after a surprise encounter with people," the park said in a statement. "This was the first report of any bear-caused human injuries in Yellowstone this year."
The park requires visitors to stay 100 yards away from black and grizzly bears and advises hikers to walk in crowds and make noise while on the trial. '
Idaho: Researchers assaulted
Two habitat technicians collecting data in Shotgun Valley, Idaho, were injured Thursday when a grizzly bear charged, the Jackson Hole Daily reported.
The bear knocked both men on the ground, biting one researcher on the thigh and backside and the other researcher in the hands, the Daily said.
One of the men used his bear spray, and the grizzly fled the scene.
Why the attacks?
"The reason why we're having bear attacks now is because we have vacationers out in the areas where bears live," said Tom Stalf, CEO of the Columbus Zoo. "They're out foraging and looking for food."
Stalf said the migration of humans is another reason for more bear encounters.
"It's called urban sprawl," he said. "As we vacation and we move out of the cities and into the country, we're going to cross paths with different types of animals."
But Harry Reynolds, vice president of the International Association for Bear Research and Management, said sometimes it's just luck.
"I think the recent attacks are circumstance and not any larger outside issue weighing into the attacks," he said. "In past years in Alaska, when there are berry failures, the bears may be more aggressive in looking for food. But this year was a good crop. I really think the recent bear attacks are just circumstance — people in the wrong time at the wrong place."
