A Newtown man injured by a black bear while hiking near Lake Zoar in Southbury two weeks ago said he was not attacked and that he plans to continue hiking in those woods, according to a report from an animal advocacy organization.

“...This was not an attack, but an incidental and isolated interaction — provoked by a mix of unlucky circumstances and my personal lack of knowledge about dealing with local wildlife in surprise close-quarters engagement,” the hiker said Monday morning.

The unidentified man, described as a 38-year-old from Newtown by officials, gave the statement on the incident through OneProtest, a nonprofit animal advocacy group.

He said Connecticut is the bear’s home as well as humans.

“I believe that with education and increased situational awareness, this kind of thing won’t occur again,” he added.