SMALL BUT MIGHTY: Jack Russell terrier scares off bear attacking his owner, 61, in Vermont
STRAFFORD, VERMONT: A woman in Vermont who was attacked by a bear was saved by her dog, a Jack Russell terrier. Susan Lee, 61, was on a walk on Sunday, August 20, with her two dogs in Strafford when the incident occured.
According to The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, she heard a noise and noticed a black bear charging towards her. Vermont has a huge and growing bear population, with an estimated 4,500 to 6,000 bears in the state.
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As per the Newsweek, the bear charged Susan and sank its teeth into her leg. She revealed that her terrier then began barking at the bear, which got distracted and stopped attacking her. She told the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department that then, she somehow fled with her two dogs.
Following the unfortunate incident, Susan was rushed to a hospital where she was received treatment. She had received scratches in the incident as well that were "two and nine inches long," according to the wildlife department. Her injuries, as per reports, were not life-threatening.
Meanwhile, wildlife officials visited the site where the attack occured and concluded that the bear responsible was likely a female with cubs. Officials said that female bears are quite protective of their cubs, and it was more than likely that the bear attacked when Susan and her two dogs came by suddenly, surprising her.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department bear biologist Jaclyn Comeau said in a press release, "Bear attacks are extremely rare in Vermont. However, at this time of year black bears are moving in family units and mothers will be protective of their cubs. If confronted by a bear it is essential to remain calm and back away slowly, and to fight back immediately if attacked."
The bear hunting season in Vermont starts in September and lasts until November and hunters are permitted to kill one bear during the season. Vermont's director of wildlife Mark Scott, in a press release, said "Fifty years ago Vermont had less than 1,500 bears, and they were found mostly in the mountains and northeastern quarter of the state."
He added, "Bears are now found statewide except in Grand Isle County, and although we have successfully increased bear numbers close to 6,000, the human population also has increased, resulting in more encounters between humans and bears. Carefully regulated legal hunting helps control the growth of the black bear population and allows for their sustainable use, while decreasing interactions with humans."