Local News
Fremont County Sheriff’s Office
Press Release 09/24/2011
For Immediate Release
A Fremont County deputy responded a bear attack that happened at about 0845 this morning. The attack happened about three quarters of a mile south of Last Chance in the Island Park area. Two hunters were hunting elk when they surprised the bear. The bear then circled through the trees and attacked one of the hunters, an Island Park resident Richard Paini. The second hunter, John Stiehl also of Island Park, was able to chase the bear away with the use of bear spray. Stiehl said that he believed the bear to be a Grizzly. Paini sustained puncture wounds to his right forearm and left hand. Paini was taken by Air Idaho to EIRMC where he is in stable condition awaiting surgery.
Idaho Fish and Game also responded to the call. The W.H.A.R.T (Wildlife Human Attack Response Team) was activated and will be investigating the attack to determine if the bear is a further threat.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office has responded to multiple sightings of bears in the Island Park area in the last month. Hunters and other outdoors man should use caution in this area and where possible use bear safe practices when in the back country.