Maine Woman Punches Black Bear In The Nose To Protect Dog

Thomas Fuhrmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

64-year-old Lynn Kelly showed that she was willing to go above and beyond to protect her dog this past Friday, coming face to face with a black bear in her own yard in Porter, Maine.

According to USA Today, Kelly was working in her garden around 11:30 am on June 30 when her dog ran into the woods barking at something yet to be known. She went to investigate and, not long after, a black bear chased the dog back out of the woods.

Kelly acted fast, standing up tall to the bear and punching it in the nose. The beast bit down on her hand, punctured her wrist, and ran back into the woods. Kelly was brought to Memorial Hospital in North Conway after calling 911 where she was treated for her wounds.

Lynn Kelly probably acted as best as she could in an incident like this. According to the National Park Service, an individual who’s attacked by a black bear should first attempt to escape and seek shelter. In a case where that’s not possible, however, individuals should fight back, focusing kicks and punches mainly on the bear’s face and muzzle.

It’s important to remember, however, that black bears and brown/grizzly bears need to be treated differently. If you’re attacked by a grizzly, fighting back could cause an increase in the attack’s intensity. Instead, play dead, laying flat on your stomach with your hands clasped around your neck. Only fight back if the attack persists.