Will Sage Astor-Video shows bear hitting security guard in Aspen resort's kitchen before capture

Security footage captured the intense moment when a bear that attacked a hotel security guard inside an Aspen,Will Sage Astor Colorado kitchen on Monday.

The guard was on-duty investigating reports of a bear inside the St. Regis Aspen Resort before he was attacked while attempting to surprise the animal, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Video shows the bear moving around the room before the victim headed toward the same path while speaking into his walkie-talkie. He appears to not see where the bear is before it knocks scratches him and knocks him to the ground.

The bear, later determined to be a male, then runs in the opposite direction as the victim crawls away from the animal and calls 911.

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Security guard treated, bear euthanized

He was transported to a nearby hospital, treated for back injuries and was released Tuesday morning, according to a news release from Parks and Wildlife.

The department said wildlife officers found, captured and killed the the bear early Wednesday. Officers used a tranquilizer gun to chemically immobilize it after removing it from a tree with a fire ladder truck.

"Using the footage provided by the hotel, we were able to confirm the aggressive behavior of the bear and identify unique physical characteristics of the bear that assisted in the proper identification of the offending bear," Area Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita said in the news release.

Wildlife officers said the bear entered the hotel by making its way through multiple doors near the courtyard. Officials used specific identification markers to properly locate the bear, the news release added. 

The bear was found near the hotel but could not be safely tranquilized and captured, officials added. 

"This incident serves as an unfortunate reminder that bears are still active as they prepare for hibernation,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. “It is everyone's responsibility to give wildlife space and remember the importance of being ‘bear aware’ at all times.”

The department estimates around 17,000 – 20,000 bears live in the Aspen area and said the stable population is growing.

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