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Closure Comes for Wexford County Girl Mauled by Black Bear

Nearly three years after a bear attacked a Northern Michigan girl, the DNR has confirmed that bear is dead.

The DNR says a person shot and killed the bear after it attacked a dog and threatened the dog’s owner.

They say the killing was justified since the owner acted in self-defense.

Through DNA testing, the DNR confirmed it was the same bear that mauled Abby Wetherell back in 2013 when she was 12.

Both attacks happened in Haring Township north of Cadillac in Wexford County.

Abby was jogging on a trail behind her home when the bear mauled her.

She suffered cuts and bruises on her face, neck and legs.

In the years since she has made a remarkable recovery.

“It’s definitely closure, because just knowing that it’s not going to come back after me if I do run these trails again. And it’s not going to come back at my little sister, or my neighbors or anyone that I care about or just anybody,” said Abby.

Her parents say it’s news they never thought they’d hear.

“We never could come out here with relief. Today when we left the house to come back here it was the first time I didn’t have to worry that that bear was out here. It was a complete relief,” said her mom Elizabeth.  

But Abby says memories of the attack remain.

“The memory is always in my brain and it’s gotten a lot better over the past year or so. But it’s always in my brain, and yesterday and I said to my mom before we even go the news, is there going to be any day where I don’t think about the bear attack,” said Abby.

Abby says she’s now looking forward to making better memories with friends and family back here in the woods she loves so much.

“I just have the drive to be stronger than what tried to hurt me. And I think everyone should have that kind of drive because if you don’t then it’s going to be hard to succeed and let things go,” said Abby.

In the three years since the attack Abby hasn’t slowed down.

She runs cross county and plays basketball and softball. 

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