WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — A woman chased by a bear in Whatcom County over the weekend is now resting up.
KIRO 7 talked with a woman who says the victim told her a black bear charged right at her.
“You go out for a Saturday morning run on the trails – nobody expects to be tackled by a bear.”
But that is what happened when Janie Reopelle and two others were on horseback, not far from where a woman and her dog were being chased by a black bear.
“I honestly am surprised I didn’t hear any screaming,” said Reopelle.
Reopelle, who runs Mountain Meets Rarm Rescue and Sanctuary, says her horse sensed something wasn’t right as they came down the mountain.
At the bottom, she saw the victim with her husband.
She says the hiker told her the bear did not scratch or bite her, but dragged her into blackberry bushes.
“She was all cut up. We’re like ‘are you ok?’ She said she was just startled – that the bear was coming up the hill in the brush, she was running down the mountain, down the service road and it crossed paths with her,” said Reopelle.
We talked with other hikers in the area who say they have come across bears.
“I’ve seen them up here a few times. Generally, they just run away from me – try to be loud and give them their space,” said one hiker.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife tells KIRO 7 they placed a bear trap along the trail and later removed it. There have been no other reports of bear activity, but officers will continue to patrol the area.
©2026 Cox Media Group
