TRINITY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, Sept. 26 (Redding Times) — A bear attack at an off-grid retreat in rural Trinity County left Jeff and Mallory Wilson seriously injured and their seven-year-old French bulldog, Cassie, dead, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and a fundraising campaign for the couple.
The attack happened early Sept. 19, 2026, outside the Wilsons’ home at Radio Ranch, an off-grid glamping retreat. The incident is being reported in the Redding area, although the property is in Trinity County.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, confirmed the attack and said it was investigating. CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira said the agency would not discuss specific details while the investigation was active.
How the attack unfolded
According to accounts from the Wilsons and their friends, Cassie began barking outside early that morning. Jeff Wilson went outside to investigate and encountered a bear described in reports as cinnamon-colored or black.
The bear charged Jeff and attacked him, according to the accounts. Cassie moved between Jeff and the bear. Mallory Wilson then went outside after hearing the commotion and was also attacked.
The couple was taken for medical treatment. A GoFundMe campaign organized for the Wilsons said Jeff suffered broken ribs and multiple bite and claw wounds. Mallory suffered serious head and facial injuries, along with other wounds. Reports differ on some of the more specific injuries, so the full medical details have not been independently confirmed.
Cassie was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital and underwent surgery, according to the fundraising campaign and accounts from the family’s friends. She died about two days after the attack.
The GoFundMe described Cassie as a deeply loved member of the family and said she “courageously put herself between” Jeff and the bear.
What investigators are doing
CDFW is investigating the attack and has been working to determine what happened and which bear was involved. Some accounts said wildlife officers were trying to trap the animal, but the materials available do not establish whether the bear was captured, identified or killed.
The Wilsons told people familiar with the incident that they believed the bear had been startled and was trapped between a fence and an open gate. That is the couple’s account, not a finding announced by CDFW.
The agency has not released a public determination about the bear’s sex, age, prior contact with people or behavior before the attack. No official incident report or wildlife identification record has been provided.
Why the case matters for human-wildlife safety
Bear attacks are individual wildlife incidents. This attack, by itself, does not establish a broader change in bear behavior or an environmental trend. The available information also does not identify a climate, food-supply or habitat cause.
The case does highlight the risks of living and operating a business in a remote area where homes and wildlife habitat overlap. The Wilsons canceled reservations at Radio Ranch while they recovered and cooperated with the investigation.
For now, the central facts remain limited: CDFW has confirmed the Sept. 19 attack; the Wilsons were seriously injured; and Cassie died after intervening. The agency’s investigation is expected to clarify what led to the encounter and what happened to the bear afterward.
