Vermont woman attacked by bear while walking her dogs, dog helps distract bear
A woman is recovering after she was attacked by a bear while walking her dogs on Saturday in Vermont.
The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife said Susan Lee, 61, of Strafford, was walking her Jack Russel terrier and a labradoodle on her property when the dogs moved out of sight.
As Lee recalled the dogs, she heard a loud noise and discovered a bear was charging her.
Lee told officials she tripped on a stone wall and the bear managed to bite her on her left leg. However, the Jack Russell terrier was able to distract the bear by barking, allowing her and the dogs to get away.
She was able to call 911 and a neighbor took her to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries including the bite and multiple scratches between two and nine inches long on her sides.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials investigated the site of the attack and determined that the bear was a female with cubs, and was likely provoked when Lee and her dogs surprised the group.
They were unable to locate the bear.
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Bear Biologist Jaclyn Comeau said bear attacks are extremely rare in Vermont, with only three prior attacks on record.
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"At this time of year black bears are moving in family units and mothers will be protective of their cubs," Comeau said. "If confronted by a bear, it is essential to remain calm and back away slowly, and to fight back immediately if attacked.”
The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife has received more than 700 reports of bear conflicts just this year. That number has quintupled the number from a decade ago, the department said.
Vermont's bear hunting season is set to begin on Sept. 1 and continues through Nov. 11.
Related video above: Woman uses 'teacher voice' to coax bear off North Carolina porch deck
