An 87-year-old couple was attacked by ablack bearon Wednesday, Nov. 19, according to theNevada Department of Wildlife.
The couple sustained minor hand injuries when a bear entered their home in the Lake Tahoe area while searching for food, the department said in a news release.
The male homeowner entered his garage around 4:30 a.m. and found a bear inside looking for food. As the man backed away, the bear scratched his hand and followed him into the house. Before leaving the home, the bear also scratched the 87-year-old female homeowner.
The bear exited the home on its own and both individuals were transported to the hospital and treated by medical personnel, the department said.
Brown bear 128, known as Grazer, whose cub was killed by her opponent in July, was crowned the 2024 champion of the annual park contest that "celebrates the healthy appetites of brown bears" ahead of winter when they will not eat or drink until they emerge in spring, the National Park Service reported. Here she is pictured on Sept. 12, 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Brown bear 128, known as Grazer, was voted Fat Bear Week champion in 2023. Hosted by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, Fat Bear Week is an annual park competition that "celebrates the healthy appetites of brown bears" ahead of winter when they will not eat or drink until they emerge in spring, according to the National Park Service. The champion is decided by votes for the bear believed to "best exemplify fatness and success in brown bears," officials wrote on the contest website." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See the winners of Fat Bear Week ahead of winter hibernation
In a written statement, Shawn Espinosa, Game Division Administration for the department, said bears in the area are currently experiencing hyperphagia, which is a phase where they build up as many calories as possible before going into their dens and entering hibernation.
"We are grateful that these individuals sustained minor injuries and are OK," said Espinosa.
What precautions can people take to avoid bears?
The department is asking residents to secure attractants during this time to avoid other bear encounters.
Precautions include securing garbage, removing food sources like bird feeders, bird seed and pet food from outside, cleaning dirty barbeques and removing trash. Some places in Nevada, including Carson City, Washoe County and Douglas County offer bear-resistant garbage cans that can be left outside.
Residents should contact their local waste management to obtain a wildlife-resistant trash canister.
Residents should do the same with their cars by keeping windows and doors closed and locked and avoid leaving coolers in truck beds.
Door and windows in unoccupied rooms should be secured.
Electric fencing around beehives and chicken coops can also help keep bears away.
If you come in contact with a bear, it's best to scare them away from a distance. Tactics that can be used include opening a window and yelling loudly or banging on pots and pans.
The department suggests yelling things like "Hey bear!", "Go bear!", "Get out of here bear!" and alert those around you to what is happening. It's also possible to scare bears by triggering car alarms.
The methods can help "negatively condition" bears to let them know it's not OK to enter areas with humans.
Black bears are the only type of bears in Nevada. According to department data, there are between 239 to 740 bears across the state.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Bear attack inside Nevada home leaves elderly couple hospitalized
