Certain parts of the country come with very specific hazards. In Florida, you might get attacked by an alligator, bitten by a viper, or chased by a meth-head. In California, you have earthquakes, wildfires, and liberals. Texas is full of rattlesnakes and scorpions. However, none are as daunting as the black bear.
Black bears can run up to 35 miles per hour, and the male of the species called a boar, can weigh up to 400 pounds. An encounter in the wild with a black bear, depending on the circumstances, can be terrifying and potentially deadly. That is unless you are a Maine woman and the bear is after your dog. In that case, prayers for the bear.
A Maine woman recently heard a commotion outside her home and went out to check on her dog. The little pooch darted off of the deck into the woods. Seconds later, the dog ran back towards the house with a black bear hot on its trail. What happened next took the woman and the bear by surprise.
The homeowner, Lynn Kelly, recalled the events: “He finally came running back up, and right behind him was the bear. The bear looked at me, and I looked at the bear. I think we both scared each other.”
While years of Elmer Fudd cartoons taught most people of a certain age that the best thing to do is play dead when you encounter a bear, Kelly knew better. She attempted to appear large and scare the furry pursuer away, but when that didn’t work, she chose violence.
Since the black bear didn’t respond to Kelly’s warning, she did the next best thing and punched it square in the snout. While certainly not recommended, the punch did the trick as the pup, named Scooby, safely reached the deck, and the bear turned tail and fled.
Kelly suffered puncture wounds to her hand and wrist from the bear’s teeth and, after calling 911, was treated at a local hospital.
Actual bear encounters are rare, but considering the circumstances surrounding this incident, local news gave some advice: “Anyone with a dog who has seen bears in the neighborhood is advised to walk the dog on a non-retractable leash and turn around and leave if a bear is spotted. Officials said you should not get between your dog and a bear,”
Authorities are calling this a “provoked attack” and have set up live-capture traps in the area in hopes of relocating the pup-hating bear to somewhere with fewer furry friends. Often bears are attracted by outdoor bird feeders or garbage cans, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said this: “When natural foods are scarce, especially in the spring or dry summers, bears will venture into backyards and fields in search of easily accessible food such as bird feeders, garbage, grills and pet foods. ”
Thankfully Lynn Kelly and Scooby were ok, and hopefully, the bear can be trapped and relocated. While punching a bear in the face isn’t recommended, Lynn Kelly now stands 1-0 versus the bear population and hopefully will now retire undefeated from bear boxing.
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