Piute Woman Attacked by Bear

A Piute woman was attacked by a bear while walking her dogs on her property Tuesday, according to the Kern County Fire Department.

Piute is in the Kern County mountains east of Bakersfield and between Tehachapi and Lake Isabella.

Allena Hanson, 51, was attacked at about 10 am in a remote area a few miles away from her home and close to the Piute fire lines.

After the fires that have burned more than 30,000 acres, many animals have lost their habitats.

Hanson apparently was able to drive herself to the Piute fire station. Hansen lost a lot of blood, which is visible on her car and on the steering wheel. The lacerations on her head and face were so deep she was flown to UCLA Medical Center.

The bear is still at large, and the Department of Fish and Game and the sheriff's department are combing the area.

August Dunning, a friend of the victim, was called after Hanson was attacked. Dunning found the dogs, and said Hanson was lucky they were by her side to help fight off the bear.

The dogs are cut and beaten but they are expected to survive.

According to the Department of Fish and Game's Web site, there have been 12 recorded bear attacks in California since 1980. None has been fatal.

The Department of Fish and Game is still actively looking for the bear, though officials said chances of finding the bear are remote.