Updated: July 14, 2025

BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin DNR identified the woman injured as 69-year-old Karen Frye 

Officials say she was attacked outside her rural residence and taken to an area hospital before being transferred to another hospital where she is recovering. 

They say preliminary findings suggest the bear "exhibited a sustained series of aggressive behaviors" toward the victim. 

The DNR says the bear involved has not yet been captured as of Monday afternoon. They say if captured, the sow will be assessed once euthanized, and if the cub is captured, it will be relocated and released in the wild. 

Published: July 13, 2025

BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says they are investigating after a black bear attacked and severely injured a 69-year-old woman in Barron County. 

The DNR says the attack took place near the Town of Comstock at around 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 12th.

The victim was able to call 911 and crews took her to the hospital, where her condition is currently unknown. 

DNR officials say Officers from Barron County and the city of Cumberland responded to the 911 call. Local DNR wardens and U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife service's staff also responded to the incident.

Upon arrival to the scene, the crews located a cub in a tree indicating it involved a sow and cub. 

DNR wardens and USDA Wildlife Services staff attempted to track the bear with the aid of a trained bear hound dog, but the search was unsuccessful.

Efforts to capture the bear are ongoing. Several bear traps have been set at the scene.

The DNR says the goal is to euthanize the bear and assess its condition.

It is still unknown why the attack occurred.