Sequoia camper “nudged” awake by bear

A camper at Sequoia National Parks was awakened in his sleeping bag Wednesday morning by a bear.

National Park Service officials report that the 25-year-old man from Santa Cruz was in the Potwisha Campground, four miles from the park’s main entrance, when he was “nudged” awake by the bear about 7:30 a.m.

“The man woke up. The bear stepped on the man, who ran away from the bear,” states a Park Service press release.

It goes on to say that the American black bear initially followed the man, but then turned around, grabbed his sleeping bag and dragged it to the edge of the campsite.

Other campers told rangers that they banged pots and pans to scare the bear away.

Although the man wasn’t attacked, he reportedly suffered a minor puncture wound and cuts to his back, which may have occurred from the bear’s claws scratching him when it stepped on him.

He declined medical attention, the Park Service reported.

Park staff, who were notified about the incident about an hour after it happened, have launched a search for the bear.

When asked what actions park rangers will take if they find the boar, spokeswoman Dana Dierkes said Thursday morning, “I don’t have all of the details at this time.”

In the meantime, park officials are warning visitors that bears that have been able to get human food in the past can become bold and aggressive around people.

“Black bears in our national parks are wild, beautiful animals,” Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks Superintendent Woody Smeck said in a written statement. “We ask visitors to admire them from a safe distance and to secure food and other scented items.”

How not to feed the bears

Here are the National Park Services’ recommendations for visitors to avoid bear encounters:

•Never leave food or scented item in cars parked at campsites where brown, metal food-storage boxes are provided. People who don’t store their food in the boxes may be fined. Guests at lodges also should remove food from their vehicles

•Don’t let bears approach you, your food, your picnic area or your campsite. Wave your arms, make loud noises, and throw small rocks toward them until they walk away, but avoid hitting the animal’s face or head.

•Keep a safe distance but be persistent. Easily abandoning your food teaches bears that it is acceptable to approach people and may result in somebody being hurt in the future.

•If a bear does get your food, never try to take it back.

•Hikers who have food to keep it away from bears are warned that this often fails. Small portable food-storage containers are available that can hold up to five days of food and fit in backpacks. Such containers are available for rent or purchase at park visitor centers and markets.

•Campers should store all their food — including unopened cans and bottles and non-food items with odors — in metal food-storage boxes installed at campsites. Avoid bringing large coolers that may not fit in them. Food not stored properly will be impounded by park rangers.

•In areas without metal food-storage boxes, seal your food to reduce odors, cover it well and close your car’s windows. Keep a clean campsite. Deposit garbage immediately in bear-proof trash cans or store in the same manner you store food.

•Leave your baby seat at home, if you aren’t bringing a baby to the park, as it can absorb smells that may attract bears. If bring a baby, wipe off any spilled food or crumbs from the seat.

•Picnickers shouldn’t move away from coolers and tables when food is out.