81-year-old bitten by bear while trying to save her dog from an attack, NJ cops say
An 81-year-old woman tried saving her dog from a bear attack until the bigger mammal bit and scratched her, police in New Jersey said.
Her English Springer Spaniel died from its injuries, according to a news release from the Sparta Police Department.
The woman came away from the attack with injuries to her head and leg after her two dogs initially encountered two bears rummaging through the garbage she put out earlier on Jan. 3, police said Jan. 4 in the release provided to McClatchy News.
When the woman, whose name wasn’t mentioned, let her dogs outside, she told authorities they saw the bears eating the garbage and headed over, prompting the larger bear to flee toward the woods.
“The other bear stood its’ ground and swatted at the English Springer Spaniel, knocking it to the ground,” police said.
She ran over to rescue her dog, but the bear then attacked her. It was a black bear, Lt. John Lamon told McClatchy News in an email.
Afterward, the bear picked up the spaniel and dragged it into the woods as her other dog tailed behind, according to the news release.
The woman went to her neighbor’s house, and EMS arrived to take her to a local hospital for treatment.
Police found the severely wounded dog that the bear dragged away and brought it to an animal hospital where it died, they said.
“The homeowner is distraught about the loss of her dog,” police said, adding that she doesn’t want to discuss her loss with the media.
At the hospital, the woman received several leg stitches and antibiotics and was released, authorities said.
Police contacted NJ Fish & Game wardens the morning of Jan. 4 to begin an investigation and try to locate the bear that attacked.
The woman “sustained a scratch to her head which did not appear consistent with a scratch from an animal and may have resulted from her falling,” Lawrence Hajna, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection, told McClatchy News via email.
The other dog present during the bear attack wasn’t injured and belonged to a family member, Hajna said.
“Due to the aggressive behavior exhibited in this incident, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has classified the bear that made contact with the woman as Category 1,” Hajna said.
“Bears deemed Category 1 are trapped and euthanized as soon as possible to protect the public and to eliminate further damage to property and/or agricultural crops.”
Black bear attacks are “extremely rare” in New Jersey, according to the Division of Fish & Wildlife.
The “most common bear problem” state residents experience is them getting into garbage, according to the agency.
When encountering a black bear, “avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge,” the agency advises. “Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.”
“To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms.”
Hajna said the department “is saddened by this incident and takes any human/bear encounters very seriously.”
“These are large, powerful wild animals and interactions with them must be avoided for public safety and the well-being of the animals. “
If you live in an area where many black bears are around, Hajna recommends using “certified bear-resistant garbage containers and keep the container outdoors.”
Sparta is in northern New Jersey, 48 miles northwest of New York City.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 12:57 PM with the headline "81-year-old bitten by bear while trying to save her dog from an attack, NJ cops say."
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