Bear attack leaves 2 people injured outside their home in Idaho, authorities say
Bear Attack in Idaho Leaves Couple Injured, Three Bears Euthanized
A brown bear stalked a home in the Sunset Heights subdivision near Salmon, Idaho, and attacked a couple while they were on their porch on the night of Friday, according to authorities. The incident took place at about 3:30 a.m., and one victim was air‑lifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for treatment.
The couple’s injuries are still being assessed, but police reports indicate that both were seriously wounded. The second victim’s condition has not yet been disclosed, but the sheriff’s office confirmed that the couple had been on their porch at the time of the attack.
When the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office received a call, Idaho Fish and Game was notified immediately. The state agency’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team was dispatched to the scene, where officers secured the area and began a search for the animal. Using a trained houndsman, the team located the bear, its sibling and a suspected mother nearby. After a brief pursuit, the trio was humanely euthanized to prevent further danger to the community.
“We were notified by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office and mobilized the IDFG Wildlife Human Attack Response Team to secure the scene,” said a spokesperson for Idaho Fish and Game. “Our priority was to protect residents and eliminate the threat.”
The sheriff’s office urged residents in the region to take preventative measures against future encounters. “To prevent bears from coming into your house, you must remove outdoor food smells, secure all potential entry points, and use deterrents around your property,” the office said. The advisory also listed practical steps, including securing garbage, cleaning outdoor grills, removing bird feeders and pet food left outside, managing fruit trees, sealing entry points, keeping windows and doors closed, and installing deterrent mats.
The incident has prompted a review of wildlife safety protocols in the area. County officials said they will collaborate with local residents to enhance education on bear‑friendly practices and reinforce existing regulations that require secure storage of attractants.
A related incident earlier this year saw a jogger and his dog attacked by a bear in a state park in Fremont County, southeast of Lemhi County. The jogger escaped uninjured, and the dog was unharmed, though the bear was never located.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the attack and are working with the community to implement additional safeguards. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow the guidelines issued by Idaho Fish and Game and the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office to reduce the risk of future human‑bear conflicts.
