A bear attack that sent one woman to the hospital on the morning of July 3 is still under investigation by Fish, Wildlife and Parks personnel.

According to investigator Brian Sommers, the victim was running with her dogs in the Cedar Flats area north of Columbia Falls, on U.S. Forest Service property near the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant. A bear burst from the trees and attacked one of the woman’s dogs.

The runner yelled at the bear before lying on her side on the ground to avoid attention. The bear then turned on the runner, grabbing her above her hip and biting her several times before turning back toward the dogs.

The victim sat up and the bear returned, biting her several times on the head. It was only at this point that the bear released its grip and ran back to the woods.

Sommers said the victim was not armed with bear spray. The victim’s husband returned to the scene after the incident to recover the dogs, who were wounded and scared but alive.

Sommers will continue to piece together the events of the attack in the coming days and weeks. Key among these details is the species of bear. Early indications and the victim’s testimony seem to confirm the attacking bear was a black bear, but that isn’t known for sure yet.

Other unknown factors include the bear’s sex and whether there were cubs present. The trap set for the bear on Thursday has been removed and the Cedar Flats area was opened to the public again Monday afternoon.

Erik Wenum, a bear and lion specialist with Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said running with dogs can be hazardous, particularly when the dogs aren’t leashed.

“A dog running off-leash can encounter a bear or other animal, and potentially bring the bear back to the owner,” he said in a press release.

The victim is recovering from the bites to the head and torso and several claw wounds. She was treated and released from North Valley Hospital.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman John Fraley said the attack was uncommon, but still a distinct possibility in backcountry areas.

“Wildlife are unpredictable,” he said. “It was probably a surprise event, and probably not a bear protecting cubs.”

Fraley said that regardless of the nature of the attack, bear spray could have made the difference.

“Even though we aren’t Monday-morning quarterbacks, not knowing which species the bear was wouldn’t have mattered if you carry bear pepper spray,” he said. “With different species you behave quite differently. Grizzlies are typically looking to neutralize a person, so you play submissive. Black bears attacking are generally a predation attack. You fight back.”

Not all black bears are actually black in color, making identifying bears harder than it would seem.

Grizzlies are generally larger, have short, rounded ears and a shoulder hump along with long light-colored claws.

Black bears can be black, blue-black, brown, cinnamon and even have whitish fur. They do not have shoulder humps but do have short, black claws and taller ears.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommends hikers, runners, walkers and anyone else in the woods carry bear spray within easy grasp and know how to properly use it.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.