Bear Mauls Homeless Man In San Gabriel Mountains

SIERRA MADRE, CA — A bear allegedly mauled an 84-year-old homeless man while he slept outside Tuesday night, authorities said.

Many residents in Sierra Madre are familiar with John Wiedeman, according to authorities.

"(Wiedeman) has lived in the mountains, by choice, for a long while," Sgt. Edward DelCoure told Patch.

The octogenarian, as per typical, was snoozing in his sleeping bag overnight in the hills above Santa Anita Avenue. For unknown reasons, a bear attacked him just before midnight Tuesday, authorities said. After the bear attacked, he headed down into town looking for help and arrived at a resident's front porch on Arno Drive.

The resident then called the police, and upon learning Wiedeman had been injured, paramedics were also called. Medics noted superficial, non-life threatening wounds on his face and arms. He was treated at the scene though he declined a trip to the hospital, according to DelCoure.

This is the first time he's come into town for help after a bear attack.

Though Wiedeman said that the bear followed him as he fled and that he "hid behind a gate" waiting for it to leave, there was no sign of the bear, according to police. His injuries didn't stop him from returning to where he is most comfortable, in the mountains, according to reader reports.

Residents familiar with Wiedeman said over Facebook that he is often seen near the library during the day and that by 10 a.m. Wednesday, he was seen off Mount Wilson Trail, bouldering.

Though media resources captured footage of a tagged bear in the area, there was no indication that the bear was behaving aggressively. Fish and Wildlife officers are handling the investigation in seeking.