Bear killed near Cadillac didn't attack girl

Post date: Aug 28, 2013 6:56:16 PM

Predator Xtreme

8/26/2013

Officials say a bear that attacked a 12-year-old girl near Cadillac earlier this month is not the same one that was shot two days later a couple of miles away.

by JOHN FLESHER | AP Environmental Writer

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Officials say a bear that attacked a 12-year-old girl near Cadillac earlier this month is not the same one that was shot two days later a couple of miles away.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said that DNA from the bear's carcass did not match fur and saliva samples taken from clothing that Abby Wetherell was wearing when she was attacked and mauled Aug. 15.

The tests showed that the bear that harmed Abby was a female, while the bear that was killed was a male.

Abby was jogging on a trail near her grandfather's cabin in a wooded area of Wexford County when the bear came after her. About 100 stitches were needed to close her wounds.

The DNR says the search for the bear continues.