Woman Punches Bear In The Nose To Save Dog

PORTER, Maine - Friday morning in Maine, a 64-year-old woman engaged a black bear in combat and punched it square in the nose to save her dog.

According to the Maine Warden Service, Porter resident Lynn Kelly was gardening in her backyard when her dog barked and bolted into the woods. The dog emerged from the bushes shortly after, being pursued by the bear (cbsnews).

"Kelly confronted the bear head on, and when the bear stood up, she stood up as tall as she could, then punched the bear in the nose, whereupon the bear bit her in the right hand, puncturing her wrist," the Maine Warden Service said in a statement. "The bear immediately released her wrist, then ran back into the woods, leaving Kelly and her unharmed dog behind."

Lynn Kelly's dog.Photo by7 News Boston

Kelly, who was gardening at the time, recounted that she got up and yelled at the bear to get away, but the normally timid animal resisted.

“He was a foot taller than I was and coming at me … I tried to make myself as big as I could and was screaming and yelling,” Kelly recounted to 7 News Boston (New York Post).

“I had to fight him off because I wasn’t gonna run from him because I know they can catch you.”

Lynn Kelly's dog.Photo by7 News Boston

Kelly courageously struck the bear in the nose, going against the advice of wildlife authorities.

Kelly dialed 911 and was then transported in an ambulance to a hospital, where the puncture wounds on her wrist were attended to.

She received stitches at Memorial Hospital in North Conway, New Hampshire.

According to the warden service, nobody has seen the bear since the "provoked attack." It had been observed earlier in the week feasting on bird feed in neighborhood yards. They are currently attempting to capture the bear alive using a trap.