In a courageous act of bravery, a woman in Porter, Maine, confronted a black bear to rescue her beloved dog on Friday morning. Lynn Kelly,64, upon seeing her dog being chased by the bear, immediately took action to intervene, as reported by WMUR.
The dramatic incident unfolded when Kelly’s pet dashed off the deck and down a nearby hill, prompting distressing squeals. Responding to the commotion, Kelly hurried towards the sound and came face-to-face with the alarming scene. Her dog, named Scooby, was closely pursued by the bear.
In an attempt to scare off the bear, Kelly tried to make herself appear larger and shouted. Unfortunately, these tactics proved ineffective, and as the bear approached her, she resorted to punching it. In the ensuing struggle, the animal bit Kelly’s hand and wrist, causing puncture wounds.
Remarkably, Scooby emerged unharmed from the encounter, as depicted in a photograph showing the resilient pup back on the safety of the deck.
Maine woman fights off bear that was chasing her dog: ‘A little unnerving’ https://t.co/PeMfJzvzC3 pic.twitter.com/qj9Ilf2mkl
— New York Post (@nypost) July 1, 2023
The incident sheds light on the thriving black bear population in Maine, which is home to the largest concentration of these creatures in the eastern United States, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The agency warns that bears are most active between April and November and are known to enter residential areas in search of easily accessible food when natural sources become scarce.
To prevent conflicts with bears, the agency advises residents to secure or remove potential attractants such as bird feeders, garbage cans, and pet food. Although such encounters are rare, authorities are treating this incident as a “provoked attack” and have deployed live-capture traps in the vicinity.
Following the harrowing encounter, Kelly rushed back inside her home to dial emergency services. She was subsequently transported to a New Hampshire hospital, where she received treatment for her injuries.
State wildlife officials describe black bears as the smallest among the three bear species, which include black, brown/grizzly, and polar bears. They note that over the past century, human-bear conflicts in Maine have diminished due to changes in agricultural practices, the decline of farming, increased interest in bear hunting, and the species’ designation as game animals.
In light of this incident, WMUR advises residents who have spotted bears in their neighborhoods and walk their dogs to use non-retractable leashes and immediately retreat if they encounter a bear. The safety of both humans and pets remains a priority in bear-inhabited areas.
