LA GRANDE — A La Grande man was attacked by a black bear near the Mount Emily Recreation Area on Wednesday, hours after the man shot and wounded the bear for harassing his chickens.

Just after 7:30 a.m., 911 operators received a call reporting that a bear had attacked a person on Owsley Canyon Road, according to a press release from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

ODFW identified the victim as Craig Lankford, of La Grande. He was transported to Grande Ronde Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

During the attack, Lankford put both arms in front of his face to protect his head, according to Lankford’s wife, Trina.

“Craig went into this attack a very healthy 59-year-old man, and his health combined with his extensive knowledge of how to fend off a bear attack is solely responsible for his survival,” she said.

His arms, as well as the top of his head, were cut by the bear’s claws, Trina Lankford said. The bear also got his arm in its jaws, leading to bite lacerations and hematomas in his forearm.

Lankford is now home and healing, she said. As one might expect after wrestling with an adult bear, he is very sore.

They are watching for any signs of infection as bear mouths are full of bacteria.

“We are grateful Mr. Lankford survived this encounter and wish him a smooth and speedy recovery,” ODFW Watershed Manager Jeff Yanke said in the release.

Lankford encountered the bear the previous evening of May 23, when he shot the animal for harassing his chickens, according to the press release. He went out the next morning to search for the bear and again found it near his property. Lankford shot the bear again and shortly afterward the bear attacked him.

Union County Sheriff’s deputies and medical services arrived on scene at the same time, according to ODFW. Upon arrival, deputies closed the roads and the Mount Emily Recreation Area. Oregon State Police and ODFW were then notified. Both agencies created a search plan for the bear. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services also provided assistance.

Shortly before 10:45 a.m. the bear was found near the site of the attack, according to the press release. The bear was euthanized and bullet fragments consistent with the victim’s report later confirmed it was the one involved in the attack.

Yanke said it is legal for someone in Oregon without a bear tag to kill a black bear if it is doing something like threatening one’s chickens or trying to enter their residence.

Oregon is home to between 25,000 to 30,000 bears, according to ODFW. While bear attacks are rare, they tend to occur when bears are wounded, when they are being fed by people and lose their natural wariness, or when they are surprised by people or their dogs.