‘Save the bear’ campaign for Gig Harbor bear

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — A “save the bear” campaign asks the state Fish and Wildlife Department not to kill the bear that attacked a woman at Gig Harbor.

The News Tribune reported dozens of e-mails have been sent to the agency pleading for the bear’s life.

Spokesman Craig Bartlett says agents believe the bear should be killed because experience shows that a bear that attacks a person is likely to do so again. Officals also want to test it for rabies.

The bear remains at large. It’s been able to resist traps baited with doughnuts, maple syrup, grease and sardines.

Wildlife Sgt. Dan Brinson is reassessing the trapping effort. He says so much time has passed since Sunday it would be hard to determine if a trapped bear is the one that injured the woman.