A woman attacked by a bear in a rural area of Southern California was recovering Wednesday as game wardens tried to capture and neutralize the animal.

According to Roxanne Moster, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center representative, Allena Hansen, 56, was resting comfortably after undergoing 10 hours of surgery to repair injuries suffered in Tuesday's attack.

In spite of suffering heavy lacerations to her face and head, the woman managed not only to escape but also to drive herself to a nearby fire station, said Sean Collins, a Kern County fire spokesperson.

"For her to be attacked in that manner and drive to a fire station, she must have been running on pure adrenaline," said Collins.

On the morning when the bear attack occurred the woman was taking her dogs on a walk. It happened near the small community of Caliente, east of Bakersfield and about five miles away from a region that burned in a recent wildfire, Collins said.

Wildlife trackers using hunting dogs started tracking down the bear on Wednesday. One hound was somewhat injured after midnight in what might have been an attack by the animal, said Kevin Brennan, a wildlife biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game, at a news conference in Ontario. He added that it was unknown if it was the same bear that attacked the woman, and that the beast was not captured.

As the bear was believed to be still in the area because they are "creatures of habit," state game wardens have continued their search today for the animal. Some pieces of Hansen's clothing were taken for testing to match against the fur of the captured bear, Brennan said. Once captured and once the test proves a positive ID, the bear will be killed.