In any other state, the headline might read "bear attacks man". Florida, however...

After being attacked by a Florida man, a bear managed to escape with his life on Wednesday.

Wild Ring Cam footage from Daytona Beach captures the moment the brave homeowner battled the beast to defend his dogs.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shared the video. The man is seen on his front porch while his three curious miniature Dachshunds look over at a noise coming from the front doorway.

Later, he told FWC officials that he believed it was another dog. It wasn't.

The porch is suddenly invaded by a huge black bear that attacks the small dogs. The man jumps onto his terrified pups and screams as he shields them with his body.

You can see the bear biting and clawing at his chest, but the man manages it off and forces it out of the yard.

Quick-thinking homeowners then drag a bench across the doorway in an effort to stop the bear. But thankfully the bear has had enough and isn't coming back for another round.

"Oh my God!" The hero shouts "Oh my God!"

"Fortunately, the man's injuries weren't life-threatening and his dog were not hurt," an FWC official stated. However, they look quite painful in photos taken by Fox35 and show punctures and lacerations on his shoulder and back.

According to the FWC, incidents such as this are very rare but it is actually the second instance in a week.

A woman from DeBary was walking her dogs last week around 9:15 PM when she stumbled upon a mama bear and her cubs. She was then attacked.

After neighbors scared the bears away, she was able to escape with her life.

Officers later tracked the bear and determined that she was a danger to the public. They then humanely killed her. The bear's 100lb cubs were over a year old and were determined to be able to survive on their own.

According to the FWC, it receives approximately 6,000 bear-related calls per year. However, it has only documented 15 cases of bear bites causing moderate to severe injuries in over 50 years.

Officers began to canvass the area after the latest incident. They also shared tips for avoiding bear encounters.

Officers advise not to run if you encounter a bear. This could trigger a chase response. Instead, move slowly in the opposite direction, and wait for the bear's departure. Make loud noises from a safe distance to scare the bear away. Give the bear an escape route and don't try to corner it.

The advice states that if you have a dog, bang your door and turn your outdoor lights on to give the bear time to move before you let your dog out into the yard.

"If your dog comes into contact with a bear, make noise. Use bear spray or a waterhose to break up the bear.

Finally, if all else fails or a bear attacks you:

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Title: Florida Man Fights Bear to Protect His Dogs
Sourced From: toofab.com/2022/01/21/florida-man-fights-bear-to-protect-his-dogs/
Published Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2022 23:19:05 +0000

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