Sudbury·Photos

Black bear swipes at Sault Ste. Marie woman in her driveway, sends her to hospital

A Sault Ste. Marie-area woman is lucky to have escaped after a black bear left her with wounds that required 17 staples to close.

Emily-Anne Morrison says she "startled" the bear

Emily-Anne Morrison says she was getting into her boyfriend's car when she came face-to-face with the bear and startled it. It swiped at her, gouging her leg. (Emily-Anne Morrison)
Emily Anne Morrison opened the door to her home and came face to face with a black bear. The startled bear swiped at her. She was sent to hospital and needed 17 staples in her leg. We spoke with her about what happened.

A 21-year-old Sault Ste. Marie woman says she is back home and recovering after an encounter with a black bear.

The incident happened on Saturday at midnight.

Emily-Anne Morrison says she was getting into her boyfriend's car when she came face-to-face with the bear and startled it.

It took 17 staples to close the wounds on Emily-Anne Morrison's leg after she was attacked by a black bear in her driveway. (Emily-Anne Morrison)

She says it jumped slightly, swiped at her and then ran into the woods.

Despite the driveway being very well lit, Morrison says she didn't realise the bear was there.

She received several deep cuts to her leg.

"We went to the hospital because I was bleeding everywhere," she said.

"I just got three swipes on my thigh with the 17 [staples], and one of his claws — or we think it was his claw — got stuck in my knee."

Morrison says she's used to bears in the neighbourhood and they usually don't bother anyone.

She told CBC News she is recovering well.

Police report the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have set two traps, one of which is on Morrison's property. They plan to relocate the bear, police said.

With files from Jan Lakes