Two Teens Injured in Mount Si Black Bear Attack 2026; North Bend

Key Points

• Two teenage hikers were injured during a black bear encounter on Mount Si trail near Seattle on Tuesday, June 16, 2026
• The incident occurred approximately 2.7 miles (4.4km) up the Mount Si trail around 12:45 PM to 1 PM local time
• A group of three basketball players from Thomas Jefferson High School encountered a mother bear with her cubs
• The mother bear charged the group and swiped at one teenager, causing scratches; another teen injured their ankle while running away
• The injured teen’s injuries were described as “very minor” though he was “terrified”; the bear “tossed him around a little bit”
• One teenager was transported to a hospital with non-critical injuries and was discharged by 9 PM local time Tuesday
• The teen received wound cleaning and possibly antibiotics at the hospital
• All Mount Si trails were closed Tuesday afternoon while Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) searched for the bear
• A second group of hikers reported being followed closely by a black bear for several miles along the same trail
• Additional trails including Little Si and Mount Teneriffe trails and trailheads were closed “until further notice due to bear activity”
• The Washington State Department of Natural Resources urged the public to avoid the area
• King County Search and Rescue crews and King County Sheriff’s Office officers assisted in transporting the injured teen
• Eastside Fire and Rescue confirmed two teens were injured, one taken to hospital with “non-critical injuries”
• The King County Sheriff’s Office reported one person was “slightly injured”
• The WDFW confirmed the bear involved was a black bear
• Bear attacks are considered very uncommon in the Snoqualmie region
• Black bears are common throughout Washington with approximately 22,000 across the state
• There have been 20 human encounters with black bears in Washington since 1970, with the last fatal attack in 1974

Washington (Evening Washington News) June 16, 2026 – Two teenage hikers sustained minor injuries after a black bear charged and attacked them on Mount Si trail, prompting immediate trail closures and a wildlife search operation in the mountainous recreation area east of Seattle.

How Did the Bear Attack on Mount Si Unfold Tuesday Afternoon?

At approximately 12:45 PM on Tuesday, a group of three basketball players from Thomas Jefferson High School was hiking about 2.7 miles up the Mount Si trail in the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area when they encountered a mother bear with her cubs, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The conservation area, composed of four mountain peaks and located about 35 miles southeast of Seattle, suddenly became the scene of a dangerous wildlife encounter.

As reported by Peter Linde of the King County Sheriff’s Office in a statement to NBC affiliate KING of Seattle,

“The mother bear charged the group and swiped one of the teenagers, who was scratched during the incident,”

Linde explained. The deputy elaborated on the injured teen’s condition:

“His injuries were very minor, but he was of course terrified. The bear tossed him around a little bit, but nothing serious,”

Linde stated.

Another teenage boy in the group injured their ankle while running away from the bear but was not directly attacked by the animal, according to multiple sources. As reported by FOX 13 Seattle,

“The teen was with two other people when the bear attacked, and another teen boy twisted his ankle while running away. He was not attacked by the bear,”

the outlet confirmed.

What Emergency Response Followed the Mount Si Bear Attack?

First responders confirmed the teen was attacked by a bear on the trail and sustained multiple minor scratches before being taken to a local hospital, according to FOX 13 Seattle.

King County Search and Rescue crews responded alongside King County Sheriff’s Office officers and transported the injured teen to a hospital for treatment, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed.

As reported by Eastside Fire and Rescue,

“the two injured were teens– one of them was taken to a nearby hospital with ‘non-critical injuries’ related to the encounter,”

the agency stated. The King County Sheriff’s Office additionally reported one person was “slightly injured” in the encounter.

The injured teenager was discharged from the hospital by 9 PM local time on Tuesday, according to The Guardian.

“He’s on his way to the hospital right now to be checked out, get the wounds clean, and maybe get some antibiotics,”

Peter Linde told KING of Seattle.

Why Were Mount Si Trails Closed Following the Bear Encounter?

Mount Si trails were closed Tuesday afternoon as emergency crews responded to the incident and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife searched for the bear, according to ABC News. The agency posted on its official X account:

“EF&R, @kingcosoPIO, and @WDFW have Mt. Si trails closed due to bear activity. At this time we have two people injured from the encounter with the bear. Crews are working to bring both patients off the trail while @WDFW works to locate the bear,”

the statement read.

Mount Si trails are currently closed as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife attempts to locate the bear, FOX 13 Seattle reported. The public was asked to avoid the area near the Mt. Si trailhead as crews respond.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources also announced the closure of additional trails, including the Little Si and Mount Teneriffe trails and their trailheads,

“until further notice due to bear activity,” according to NBC News. They urged the public to avoid the area entirely.

Did Other Hikers Encounter the Same Bear on Mount Si?

Wildlife officials reported that a separate group of hikers was stalked by a bear for miles along the Mount Si Trail before the trail was subsequently closed, according to NBC News. As reported by FOX 13 Seattle,

“A second group of hikers reported being followed closely by a black bear for several miles,”

the outlet confirmed.

It’s believed the bear became aggressive because she was protecting her cubs, which were sighted in the area, according to FOX 13 Seattle.

The presence of cubs likely explains the mother bear’s protective and aggressive behavior toward the hiking group.

How Common Are Black Bear Attacks in Washington State?

Officials say bear attacks are very uncommon in the Snoqualmie region where Mount Si is located, according to FOX 13 Seattle.

Black bears are common throughout Washington, as there are about 22,000 across the state, the same outlet reported.

As reported by FOX 13 Seattle with information from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,

“There have been a total of 20 human encounters with black bears in Washington since 1970, and the last fatal black bear attack happened in 1974,”

WDFW data shows.

In general, bears avoid people, according to wildlife officials. However, the WDFW provided specific tips for encountering a bear in the wild:

• Identify yourself as human by standing up, waving your hands in the air, and talking in a low voice
• Back away, avoiding direct eye contact; do not run away
• Use bear spray if you have it

For more information about black bears, visitors can visit the WDFW website, officials recommended.

What Background Exists Behind This Mount Si Bear Development?

The Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area where the attack occurred is composed of four mountain peaks and is located approximately 35 miles southeast of Seattle in the mountainous recreation area outside the city. The trail is a popular hiking destination east of Seattle, according to ABC News.

The three victims were basketball players from Thomas Jefferson High School who were hiking together when the encounter occurred.

The incident happened in early afternoon hours, approximately between 12:45 PM and 1 PM local time Tuesday.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the bear involved was a black bear, the species most common throughout Washington state. Black bear populations in Washington number approximately 22,000 animals across the state.

Historical data from WDFW shows only 20 human encounters with black bears in Washington since 1970, with the last fatal black bear attack occurring in 1974, demonstrating the rarity of such incidents.

The Snoqualmie region where Mount Si is located specifically experiences very uncommon bear attacks, according to local officials.

The mother bear’s aggressive behavior was likely protective in nature, as cubs were sighted in the area at the time of the incident. This maternal protection behavior is consistent with typical black bear behavior when families are present.

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How Will This Bear Attack Affect Washington State Hikers and Outdoor Recreation?

This development will directly affect hikers planning to visit Mount Si and surrounding trails in the immediate future, as all Mount Si trails remain closed while WDFW works to locate the bear.

The additional closure of Little Si and Mount Teneriffe trails and trailheads “until further notice” means outdoor recreation enthusiasts must seek alternative hiking locations in the region.

Local hikers and outdoor recreation visitors to the Snoqualmie region will need to avoid the Mount Si trailhead area entirely until wildlife officials reopen the trails, according to FOX 13 Seattle’s public safety announcement.

The closure impacts both casual day hikers and more serious mountain recreation enthusiasts who regularly use these popular trails.

Washington state residents and visitors planning outdoor activities should consult WDFW’s website for updated trail closure information and bear safety guidance, as officials recommended.

The incident may increase awareness of bear safety protocols among hikers, particularly regarding encounters with mother bears and cubs.

For Thomas Jefferson High School students and the broader Seattle-area high school community, this incident may affect outdoor education programs and recreational basketball team activities that include hiking components, though no official school response has been reported yet.

The rare nature of black bear attacks in Washington—with only 20 encounters since 1970 and no fatalities since 1974—suggests this incident will not fundamentally change hiking patterns in the region long-term, but may temporarily increase caution among hikers regarding bear encounters. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts should follow the WDFW’s recommended safety protocols: identify themselves as humans, back away without running, avoid direct eye contact, and use bear spray when available.