'Never tell me the odds': Chewbacca (not that one) and best friend escape from bear in NC

Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News
·5 min read

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - Although it wasn't May the Fourth (Star Wars Day), the force was with Hendersonville's John Koerber and his little Yorkie, ChewB (named after Chewbacca), last week when they both came face-to-face with a large bear in Koerber's front yard.

In the early morning hours of April 27, Koerber, 67, was sleeping in his Beechwood Lakes home when he felt a lick on his face. The lick came from his 6-year-old dog, ChewB, and he was ready to go outside. It was 4:15 a.m., about an hour earlier than usual for what Koerber calls ChewB's "morning pee, sniff and poop routine."

It turned out to be a morning Koerber and ChewB will never forget.

ChewB, a 6-year-old Yorkie owned by North Carolina residents John and Nancy Koerber, survived a bear attack on April 27.
ChewB, a 6-year-old Yorkie owned by North Carolina residents John and Nancy Koerber, survived a bear attack on April 27.

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"I rubbed my eyes, slipped on some trousers, stepped into my old comfy worn-out slippers, put on his tiny harness and grabbed the leash, which is the retractable type, and still kinda half asleep, put it onto the harness and opened the bedroom exterior door onto our little covered porch," Koerber said.

After that, he grabbed one of his many walking sticks that he has propped up against the exterior wall of the house near the front door.

Hendersonville's John Koerber takes a selfie of him and his Yorkie, ChewB. They survived a bear attack in his front yard on April 27.
Hendersonville's John Koerber takes a selfie of him and his Yorkie, ChewB. They survived a bear attack in his front yard on April 27.

"It was pitch dark beyond the lighted radius of the porch light to the east, just shy of the porch light's reach. I’m waiting for ChewB to do his business, which is always so mysterious with sniffs and circles and the often-deemed not-quite-satisfactory spot and on to another.

"Even though I was tired, I was aware that danger is always possible, with coyotes or stray, unattended neighbors' dogs, which have killed or wounded several of our beloved pets over the years," Koerber said.

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When ChewB finally decided on his spot, Koerber said he noticed ChewB do a "startled head turn to the woods."

"At just that time, I heard an incredibly deep-throated roar of sorts and the moving thuds of running feet and breaking branches. I knew instantly... bear," he said.

It was a scenario he never hoped he'd have to face, but it was a scenario he had played out many times in his mind, just in case it ever did happen. With ChewB to almost full extension on the retractable leash, Koerber said he pulled the little dog to him quickly, and the dog was airborne for about 10 feet.

"I had to keep him close to my feet because I needed both hands to keep this charging bear at bay. The bear was in hot pursuit of little courageous ChewB and was lunging low to get him. Meanwhile, I was taking off backward toward the porch, swinging the walking stick at the bear's nose and yelling or roaring 'No, no.' This gave a second or two for me to turn around, dragging ChewB half airborne onto the porch," Koerber said.

But the bear cut Koerber and ChewB off from the front door and lunged again at ChewB.

"We had to pass his lunging head and huge claws to get to the door. Fortunately, only half of him had got onto this part of the elevated porch," Koerber said. "I had to scream and beat his head and nose with yet another walking stick now next to me to get myself and most importantly my little dog, which I could not pick up or we both would be gonners, inside."

From the initial attack, Koerber said he had the retracted leash cord wrapped around his wrist. As he was attempting to back the bear back so they could pass and trying to keep ChewB near his feet, he said he was now swinging with a broken stick at the bear's nose.

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'Chewie, Get us out of here!': ChewB stands his ground

"When I looked down I saw ChewB had moved closer to the bear - probably to protect me. The bear lunged again, and his front paws and claws came within a couple of inches of little ChewB. I let out the deepest and loudest scream of 'no' and bashed him again," Koerber said.

In all that commotion, that's when Koerber heard 'What is it? Are you OK?' coming from the front door. It was his wife, Nancy.

"I told Nancy, 'Shut the door... it is a bear.' At that moment, I felt we maybe had a chance to get in the door. The bear had backed off a second and in we went in a flash and latched the door. ChewB and I, hearts pumping and pumping, knew we were bonded in one hell of a near very tragic event," Koerber said.

Believe in the force: A valuable lesson learned

Koerber and his wife, Nancy, have lived in Western North Carolina since 1981 and in their Beechwood Lakes home since 1988. He said they have never been attacked by a bear prior to this incident.

"I have peacefully encountered them before several times while camping and also with their treks through neighborhoods. I love the bears," he said.

ChewB is a 6-year-old Yorkie owned by Hendersonville's John and Nancy Koerber. John Koerber and ChewB survived a bear attack in his front yard on April 27.
ChewB is a 6-year-old Yorkie owned by Hendersonville's John and Nancy Koerber. John Koerber and ChewB survived a bear attack in his front yard on April 27.

Following the April 27 attack, though, Koerber said ChewB's morning pee, sniff and poop routine will have some tweaks.

"We will be waiting till daybreak if possible. Now, along with my customary walking stick, I’ve added a small air horn and small empty plastic bottle to crinkle - and even a can of bear spray nearby. I have always been thoughtful of these possibilities, with various 'noise makers' that I can hit with a walking stick placed randomly here and there. I now also have a metal bucket closer to the porch."

He said his wife had a few discussions with a bear behavior expert at Help Asheville Bears. According to its website, www.helpashevillebears.org, a nonprofit is a group consisting of a multi-range of professionals in the South Asheville/Arden area who are long-time avid bear watchers, studiers and lovers.

More information is available by calling 1-855-SOS-BEAR or by sending an email to helpashevillebears@gmail.com.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: May the Fourth miracle: Star Wars named Yorkie, NC owner fend off bear