A teenage boy was injured when a black bear charged and swiped at him while hiking on a popular trail outside Seattle on Tuesday, prompting wildlife officials to shut down the route and several nearby trails as crews search for the animal.
The attack happened in the early afternoon roughly 2.7 miles up Mount Si Trail, located within the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The teen was one of three hikers walking together when the bear charged toward them and scratched him during the encounter.
A King County Sheriff’s Office deputy said the boy’s injuries were minor but that the experience left him badly frightened. The bear reportedly tossed him around briefly before the encounter ended, though officials stressed the injuries were not severe. He was taken to a hospital to have his wounds cleaned and to be evaluated for possible antibiotics.
King County Search and Rescue teams responded to the scene alongside fish and wildlife officers and helped transport the teen for medical care.
In a separate incident the same day, another group of hikers reported being followed closely by a black bear for several miles, though no injuries resulted from that encounter.
Following the attack, officials closed Mount Si Trail so crews could search the area for the bear involved. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources also announced closures of nearby Little Si and Mount Teneriffe trails and their trailheads, citing ongoing bear activity in the region. Officials urged hikers to avoid the area entirely until further notice.
Black bear attacks remain rare in Washington. State wildlife officials say only one fatality has been linked to a black bear encounter, dating back to 1974, while roughly twenty injury-causing encounters have been recorded since 1970.
The Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area, known for its four scenic peaks, sits about 35 miles east-southeast of Seattle and is a popular destination for day hikers.
