A bear attacked a security guard inside a hotel kitchen on Monday night, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed. 

Officials said the guard was on-duty investigating reports of a bear inside the St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen, Colorado. While attempting to surprise the bear by going through a different area of the kitchen, the bear scratched him and knocked him to the ground. 

The victim managed to move away from the animal and call 911, Parks and Wildlife said in a news release. He was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance so they could treat his back injuries where he was later released Tuesday morning. 

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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 in the news release. “It is everyone's responsibility to give wildlife space and remember the importance of being ‘bear aware’ at all times.”

Officers continued their search Tuesday and the office has not released an update as of Wednesday. 

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