SANDY, Ore. - A Sandy woman went out on her back porch to investigate noises and ended up escaping an encounter with a black bear with just scratches on her arm, foot and thigh.

The 58-year-old Sandy-area woman received non-life threatening injuries when she went outside around 11 p.m. Sunday night. She found a bear feeding on sunflower seeds stored in an aluminum garbage can on her back porch The bear swiped at her, injuring her on the arm, foot and thigh. The bear then ran off.

At about 3 a.m. early Monday morning, the bear returned but was scared off by the woman's husband who then called police. An Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife trooper and two Clackamas County sheriff deputies responded to the couple's home but could not find the bear.

The woman suffered scratches and a puncture wound. She initially treated herself and later sought medical attention at a local hospital.

Authorities planned to place a bear trap near the area of Coalman Road northeast of Highway 26.

Because of the recent increase of bear and human encounters, state wildlife officials reminded residents to not feed bears or any other wildlife.  Feeding bears - even unintentionally by leaving garbage bins accessible - gets them used to being around people and makes them a public safety risk, authorities said.

For tips on how to reduce unintentional bear feeding, click here.