Bear attacks hiker at Virginia park; some trails closed

MILLBORO, Va. (AP) — Several miles of trails at Douthat State Park have been closed after a bear attacked a hiker.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries tells media outlets that the attack occurred around 6 a.m. Saturday near Tusacora Overlook. A group of hikers ran after spotting the adult female bear on the trail. The bear attacked one hiker who became separated from the group.

The agency says a bear believed to be responsible for the attack was humanely killed around 4 a.m. Sunday.

The hiker, Laura Cooksey of Midlothian, tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1MXArtu ) that the bear clawed her back and knocked her to the ground. The bear then bit her twice on the leg.

Trails on the west side of Douthat State Park Road are closed during the investigation.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com

Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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