Governor Granholm is speaking out in response to several calls urging her to save a black bear who attacked a bow-hunter in Emmet County.

Michigan wildlife officials will try to euthanize the mother black bear  and are currently trying to track by setting up cameras in the area of the attack.

Chad Fortune was sitting in the tree stand earlier this month when a female black bear and her three cubs started climbing the tree and biting him.

Fortune said at first two cubs climbed up the tree stand ladder, and when he shouted at them, they dropped to the ground. A third bear then climbed up the tree, and the hunter punched and elbowed it until it fell from the tree. Then a bear climbed up the tree stand ladder and bit Fortune on the leg.

Fortune remained in the tree stand for two hours until his fiancee and father came looking for him, worried that he had not returned from hunting after nightfall. After helping him down from the tree stand, they took Fortune to the hospital for treatment.

He was treated at the hospital for bites to his left calf, thigh and shoulder

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment says the mother is dangerous because she's lost her fear of humans, and the cubs can survive on their own.

Governor Granholm's office has received several phone calls from people trying to save the bear.  The Governor however, is backing the DNRE's decision to capture the sow and euthanize it.

The Governor's office released this statement to 7&4 news:

"... while the governor is pleased to hear from citizens, this is a case where the safety of our citizens has to be the top priority."