Florida Officials Kill Three Bears after Woman is Badly Mauled

After a woman was badly mauled by a bear in the garage of her Florida home, state wildlife officials have killed three bears found in her neighborhood that reportedly showed no fear of humans.

Terri Frana, 44, was attacked by a 200-pound bear in the garage of her Seminole County home on Saturday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Frana survived with bite marks to her head, arm and leg and claw marks on her back. She had to have 30 staples and 10 stitches in her head before being released from the hospital, the Sentinel reported, citing Frana's husband.

"Our thoughts go out to Mrs. Frana and her family," the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said in a statement Sunday. "We hope for her speedy recovery."

The Florida FWC said authorities responded to the incident in the Lake Mary subdivision, setting bear traps in an attempt to catch the bear that mauled Frana.

Several bears were reportedly in the area of Frana's home. Coincidentally, the day Frana was attacked the FWC issued an advisory about Florida black bear activity increasing, as the animals have just come out of their dens from winter hibernation.

"Now is the time to expect bears to show up looking for food," Dave Telesco, who directs the FWC's bear management program, said in the statement. "If they can't find food in your neighborhood, they'll move on."

Investigators will be able to use data from Frana's injuries, such as the claw marks on her back, to identify to the bear that mauled her. The FWC said the offending bear would be euthanized if found.

The day after Frana was attacked, the FWC said it captured and euthanized three bears in the Lake Mary area that showed no fear of people. One of the three bears was described as particularity aggressive.

Two other bears were spotted in the area Sunday, the FWC said. These bears ran away upon the sight of humans. "This is typical wild bear behavior, and no action was necessary with these bears," the FWC said.