A bear attack Tuesday, March 5, in Butler Township that left a woman severely injured is a stark reminder that encounters with nature can be very dangerous.

As first reported in the Butler Eagle on Wednesday and followed up in the Thursday edition, Lee Ann Galante, 55, was letting her dog when she encountered a mother bear with three cubs.

Butler Township police said Galante was letting her dog out Tuesday evening when she was attacked by the mother bear. Galante was able to escape the bear and get back into her home, but she was badly hurt.

She is being treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for extensive injuries.

The exact details are still unclear, but the attack should remind all of us that we are not alone, even in residential neighborhoods. Pennsylvania is home to as many as 15,000 black bears, according to figures from 2022.

In the 2023 hunting season, about 29 bears were harvested in Butler County.

People who live near Galante told the Eagle they had seen signs of bears in the area before, with one person having spotted a bear’s paw print earlier in the day.

Black bears, which are the only species of bear native to Pennsylvania, are generally not aggressive, but it’s very important to be cautious if you spot one.

Bearwise, a website dedicated to helping people live safely with black bears, offers tips on what to do if you spot a black bear in your yard.

■ From a safe distance, make loud noises, shout, or bang pots and pans together to scare away the bear.

■ When the bear leaves, remove potential attractants such as garbage, bird seed, or pet food.

■ Ask neighbors to remove attractants.

■ Check your yard for bears before letting out your dog.

If the bear starts to approach, it’s important not to turn your back or run away, which can provoke a chase. Instead, Bearwise recommends the following.

■ Stand your ground.

■ Back away only when the bear stops its approach.

■ Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump.

■ Yell “Hey bear” loudly.

■ Use bear spray if needed.

Nature can be beautiful, but it can be dangerous as well. Being bear aware can help you stay safe.

— JK