Young black bear struck, killed on I-5 in the Everett area

Published 7:48 am Wednesday, May 19, 2010

EVERETT — Reports on Monday of bear sightings in neighborhoods near I-5 came to a sad ending hours later when a young black bear was struck by a car and killed on I-5.

The bear that people saw earlier likely was the same animal that was killed, state Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Randy Lambert said.

The bear was hit after 10 p.m. on southbound I-5 near Everett Mall. No people were injured.

Wildlife officers think the bear likely came from a forested area near Lake Stevens and may have crossed the Snohomish River, Lambert said. The first report came Sunday evening from the Lowell neighborhood. On Monday morning, the bear was spotted near 41st Street and I-5, and visited the Beverly Park neighborhood later in the day.

Wildlife officers searched the area but didn’t find the animal. “We were hoping he’ll find his way back,” Lambert said.

Karen Sloane, who lives in Beverly Park, was driving to work about 8:30 p.m. when she spotted the animal in a wooded spot between Broadway and Beverly Boulevard north of Highway 526. “At first I thought it was a great big dog,” she said. She called 911 after realizing it was a bear.

The animal ran into someone’s back yard. Sloane was saddened to hear it was killed later that night.

The bear likely came looking for food, which is common this time of year, Lambert said.

About 25,000 black bears live in Washington, according to Fish and Wildlife. They typically avoid people but can wander into residential areas, attracted by garbage, pet food and bird feeders. As a precaution, people should keep pet food inside and set garbage out in the morning.

Monday wasn’t the first time a bear wandered into Everett, Lambert said. One was caught last year near Marine View Drive, below I-5. Another in a wooded median along I-5 near Stanwood.

If you see a bear at a close range, remain calm and move away quietly. If the bear walks toward you, stand up and wave your hands above your head. You can scare away the bear by making noise — yelling, clapping your hands and stomping. Don’t throw anything at the bear and don’t run from it.

State officials say they know of four black bear attacks on people, including one fatal case, since record-keeping began.

About bears

For more information on living with bears, go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/bears.htm.