Photo: Getty
Never underestimate the power of a dog with moves.
Susan Lee told officials she was walking on her own property in Strafford on Aug. 20, with her two dogs, a Jack Russell terrier and a labradoodle. Quickly after she heard a noise, a black bear charged her, and she tripped over a stone wall.
“She then felt pain on her upper left leg and realized the bear was on top of her and had bitten her,” officials wrote.
Fortunately, that’s when her Jack Russell terrier stepped in to save the day.
“If I were to predict what would have happened if the dog wasn’t there, the bear may have caused more damage to her,” Game Warden Sgt. Jeffrey Whipple told the outlet. “But most likely, when she was knocked down and was out of the fight, the bear would have got off of her and retreated.”
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Wildlife officials attempted to locate the bear, which they suspect is a mother with cubs, but could not, according to the press release. They believe that the bear was attacking out of surprise in an attempt to protect its young.
“Bear attacks are extremely rare in Vermont,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Bear Biologist Jaclyn Comeau, adding that the department has records of only three prior bear attacks in the state.
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Vermonters are used to living with wildlife, even having one of the densest black bear populations in the country. According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Departmentwebsite, there is approximately one bear for every three square miles.
They offer tips on “Living with Black Bears,” which states that you should never feed a bear, and that “It is your responsibility to avoid attracting bears. Bears are wild animals that belong in their natural habitat—the forest.”
Local wildlife officials urge anyone who sees or encounters a black bear in Vermont to contact their nearest Fish & Wildlife office or local state game warden, “prior to taking any control action on their own.”
source: people.com
