Maine woman bitten by black bear while defending dog
Maine authorities are looking to capture a black bear who bit a woman after she punched it in the nose when protecting her dog.
At approximately 11:30 Friday morning 64-year-old Lynn Kelly of Porter, Maine, was out working in her garden when her dog started barking and took off into the woods.
Kelly heard her dog continue to bark and then yelp, and when she went to investigate, her dog came running out of the woods, being chased by a black bear, according to Maine Wildlife officials.
Kelly confronted the bear head-on, stood up as tall as she could, then punched the bear in the nose, when the bear bit her in the right hand, puncturing her wrist. The bear immediately released her wrist, then ran back into the woods, leaving Kelly and her unharmed dog behind.
Emergency crews responded and transported Kelly to the hospital to be treated for puncture wounds.
The bear has not been seen since the provoked attack, wildlife officials said. The Department has set two live-capture culvert-style traps to try and capture the bear alive.
The bear had been seen in previous days in nearby yards eating birdseed that had been left outside.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife reminds people that black bears can be found throughout the state, and to:
• Remove potential wildlife attractants from your yard
• If bears have been seen in your area, do not wait to remove potential food sources from your yard
• Attractants can include bird feeders, bird seed on the ground, unsecured garbage, pet food, and even barbecue grills.
• If you do see a bear, keep your distance, and do not corner or agitate the bear
If you are a dog owner and have seen a bear in your neighborhood:
• Walk your dog on a non-retractable leash
• If you see a bear, turn around and leave
• Do not get in between your dog and a bear
• Turn any outside lights on before letting your dog outside at night
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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