Bear that mauled Gig Harbor woman still out there

The bear that mauled a woman near Gig Harbor remains at large.

The traps remain set Monday, and agents plan to kill the bear because it harmed a person, said Fish and Wildlife Department spokesman Craig Bartlett. Officials also want to test the animal for disease.

The woman who was attacked Sunday while walking her dog is in satisfactory condition at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.

She doesn't want her name, age or the nature of her wounds released, said hospital spokeswoman Jacquie Goodwill. The woman is expected to fully recover and should be released in about a day.

Wildlife Capt. Dan Brinson told The News Tribune of Tacoma on Sunday that the woman suffered a severe laceration to an arm and bites to her back.

She was found by a couple driving by.

Wildlife agents hunted for the bear with dogs Sunday, but they lost the scent in the rain. Two traps were set out, baited with doughnuts, maple syrup and vanilla.

Bartlett called the attack "highly unusual" and says it's surprising there would be two attacks within two months of each other in Washington.

John Chelminiak, a Bellevue city councilman, was mauled Sept. 17 while walking his dogs at a vacation cabin near Lake Wenatchee. He suffered serious wounds and lost an eye but is recovering.

The Gig Harbor woman surprised the bear while walking her dog along a frequent route, said Goodwill.

The woman expresses her thanks to the police and medics who responded and to everyone who has expressed their prayers and concerns, Goodwill said.

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With information from: The News Tribune