Hunter recovers after bear attack

Published 10:04 am Tuesday, September 30, 2014

ROBBINSDALE — A Minnesota hunter is recovering after a black bear attack in Pine County over the weekend.

Family members said hunter Brain Johnson of North Branch was undergoing a second surgery Monday. Johnson told authorities he was tracking the wounded bear early Saturday when it knocked him down and clawed and bit him.

Johnson was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with two broken arms and a dislocated wrist, as well as bites and lacerations.

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Johnson’s friend and hunting partner Craig Lindstrom said another hunter had hit the 520-pound bear with an arrow. He said Johnson repeatedly stabbed the bear with a knife until it left him alone.

State Department of Natural Resources officials said there have been five bear attacks that caused injury in Minnesota since 1987.