Early Morning Emergency in the Backyard
In a terrifying early morning encounter, a 45-year-old man from Gulf Breeze, Florida, was bitten by a bear while attempting to protect his dog. The man made a panicked call to 911 around dawn on Thursday, telling dispatchers, “I need an ambulance, I need – I just got bit by a bear in my backyard.
“It tried to attack my dog. I went to rescue my dog, and it bit me in my leg.”
@abcnews A man in Gulf Breeze, Florida, was hospitalized after being attacked by a bear in his backyard while protecting his dog. Whit Johnson reports.
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Caught on Camera: Bears Roaming Neighborhood
A neighbor’s Ring camera recorded two bears rummaging through a trash bag just moments before the attack. The footage has heightened concerns in the quiet Gulf Breeze neighborhood, where recent overdevelopment has been blamed for increased bear sightings.
Face-to-Face with Danger
The man explained that he rushed outside after hearing his dog yelp. That’s when he found himself face-to-face with a bear. “It bit my leg, my left leg, my whole left leg,” he said in the 911 call. “He charged me again after he bit me. I kicked him in the face, and I ran as fast as I could in the house.”
Wildlife Authorities Respond
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the bear has not been spotted since fleeing the scene. Authorities have placed a trap at the victim’s property and launched an investigation into the incident.
Community on Alert
The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, residents in the area are expressing concern. Many believe unchecked development is pushing wildlife into closer contact with humans. This incident comes on the heels of other bear-related attacks in Florida, including a tragic case involving the death of an 88-year-old man and his dog.
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