Bear attack.

[coueschaser3]

LOS ANGELES - A woman whose face was mauled by a bear in rural Southern California has been released from a hospital, health officials said Monday.

 

Allena Hansen, 56, had the scalp along her forehead ripped off, leaving it hanging to the side, said Dr. Kimberly Lee, one of the two surgeons who repaired the injuries at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

 

The bear's claw left an indentation on her bone where it tore through her face, Lee said. But her "vital structures" were spared, Lee said.

 

No other details of her injuries were released.

 

UCLA said in a statement that Hansen underwent six hours of surgery. A friend had said last week that the surgery lasted 10 hours.

 

Lee said Hansen appears to be doing well and that doctors are optimistic about her recovery. She called Hansen "a remarkable woman who is an inspiration to us all."

 

Hansen was attacked July 22 while walking with her two dogs on her property in the Piute area, near the little community of Caliente, about 85 miles north of Los Angles.

 

Despite her injuries she drove to a fire station to get help. She was flown to Los Angeles.

 

A UCLA Health Sciences spokeswoman, Elaine Schmidt, said Hansen was released from the medical center last week but could not say which day.

 

DNA tests of saliva on the victim's shirt have yielded preliminary confirmation that the animal was a black bear, California Department of Fish and Game spokesman Steve Martarano said.

 

Fish and Game have called off the search for the bear.

 

 

 

[Chef]

I knew you were going after bear today and when I saw this post I thought a bear attacked you guys!

When do you head out?

[coueschaser3]

headin out as soon as i get off work, so pretty late tonight. Probably get to my spot just before light so no sleep. My pops actually saw this on the news and knows im goin and brought it up. Well see how it goes, this place is a snake pit, found 12 in two days last year. Well see how good the bears are, rain comin in tonight and monday so it should get the bears moving.