Colorado experienced its first reported bear attack of 2023 when a sheepherder was severely injured in the state's mountains, according to wildlife officials. The incident occurred in the Weiminuche Wilderness area in the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado early Tuesday morning. The 35-year-old man awoke to a confrontation between a bear and his sheep at around 1 a.m. He fired a rifle at the bear before being attacked, sustaining bites to his head and other wounds on his arm and hand. Despite his injuries, the man managed to make it back to his tent and contact his cousin, who helped him get airlifted to a nearby hospital for surgery. He was released the following day. The sheepherder was working for a rancher with a permit to graze sheep in the remote area, a common practice during the summer months. State wildlife officials, along with a team of dogs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, worked to track down the bear responsible for the attack. They located and shot a male bear weighing approximately 250 pounds on Tuesday night. While the bear had chest wounds, it is unclear if they were from the rifle fired by the sheepherder. Further testing is needed to confirm if the bear's DNA matches that found on the human victim. "This is a difficult part of the job," said Adrian Archuleta, area wildlife manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "But when it comes to injuries to humans as a result of a predator attack, human health and safety is our top priority." Black bears primarily consume berries and acorns but will attack smaller animals, such as sheep, if given the opportunity. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by wildlife encounters, especially during the active bear season, which typically runs from mid-March through November in Colorado. While bear attacks on humans are relatively rare, it is essential to remain cautious and take appropriate precautions when in bear country. Similar attacks have recently been reported in other parts of North America, including western Canada and Arizona. The National Park Service advises treating all bears as potentially dangerous and maintaining a safe distance to minimize the risk of an encounter turning violent.