In a terrifying encounter on November 16, 2016, Karen Osborne, a resident of Frederick, Maryland, found herself face-to-face with a female black bear and her cubs. What began as a routine walk to her daughter’s house turned into a nightmare as Osborne became the target of a ferocious attack.
Despite the darkness of the night, Osborne stumbled upon the bear and her cubs, triggering a relentless assault that left her with severe injuries. Over a span of 35 harrowing minutes, Osborne endured multiple charges from the bear, sustaining injuries including a black eye, broken arm, pelvis, teeth, and bite marks.
Despite the agony, Osborne summoned the strength to call 911, curled up in agony on her daughter’s driveway.
Following the attack, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources intervened, tracking down and ultimately euthanizing the bear responsible. However, Osborne harbors frustration that action wasn’t taken earlier, given prior nuisance reports about the bear. Her concern extends to the fate of the bear’s three cubs, now left vulnerable in the area.
Despite the physical and emotional scars, Osborne remains resilient. In the spirit of gratitude during the holiday season, she reflects on her survival, finding solace amidst the trauma. However, Osborne’s ordeal serves as a poignant reminder of the risks posed by wildlife encounters and underscores the importance of proactive wildlife management to ensure community safety.
As Osborne embarks on her journey of recovery, her story resonates as a testament to human resilience in the face of adversity, and her determination to seek justice highlights the need for enhanced measures to protect communities from wildlife threats.
