Most dog owners don’t prepare for the worst when it comes to walking in the woods. Taking a nature walk is beneficial for people and pets. However, it’s always possible to run into a potentially dangerous wild animal. Because spring weather motivates more dog owners to get outside and be active with their canine companions, wild animals become a threat. Also, this is the season that bears wake from hibernation and have cubs. Dogs can be threatening to a mother bear protecting her cubs. A dog walker attacked by a bear in Connecticut has set an unfortunate example for other pet owners.
A woman was walking her dog in Connecticut when she was unexpectedly attacked by a black bear. The unidentified woman and her dog escaped to safety, according to CBS News. The dog was not harmed by the bear. The woman suffered from a minor bite wound and superficial scratches. She was able to return home to safety where she called for help. As is protocol in these situations, the black bear was humanely euthanized after the attack.
Bear attacks are not uncommon in Connecticut. A list of dos and don’ts provided by the town of Avon notes that loose dogs are threatening to bears. However, black bears are typically not aggressive. Attacks are more likely to occur on animals or single people, not people in groups or leashed dogs.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said in an annual State of the Bears report that interactions between humans and bears are rising. This means that, proportionately, interactions with bears and dogs will rise as well. In areas where bears are common, don’t allow dogs outdoors without supervision.
Safety in areas with bears
There are steps you can take to prevent an attack on yourself on your dog. It’s important to remember that bears are largely peaceful creatures that want to interact with you about as much as you want to interact with them. Keep something on hand that can make a lot of noise, like an air horn, to deter bears. If you spot a bear outside your home, keep your pets inside until they’ve left the area. Some pet owners are surprised to learn their pets are what attract wild animals. Bears may view small dogs as a potential prey item, while unattended bowls of food or chew bones are similarly on the menu. Keep pet food indoors to prevent bears from taking up residence in your backyard.
