LONGWOOD, FLORIDA: A Florida man in Seminole County experienced a harrowing bear encounter that left him with a head injury and his dog missing on Tuesday, August 29.
The incident happened a little after 10 pm when the man was walking his dog in a neighborhood along Winding Pine Trail in Longwood.
Florida man attacked by bear in Seminole County
A 911 caller described the events, saying, "I pulled my car in between to get the bear away from the dog." The man reported that the bear remained in his yard following the encounter.
According to a witness, the bear seemed provoked by the victim's dog barking at it and its cub. The witness recounted, "He's lying on the ground. It looks like he's bleeding on the back of the head."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) spokesperson said they believed the Florida man's injuries were "secondary to the interaction with the bear."
However, the injury was described as "no laceration which would have occurred by the bear's claw," and it appeared to be "blunt, comparable to falling on the pavement," per the Seminole County Sheriff's Office report.
Did the Florida man's dog survive?
Fortunately, the man's dog, which initially ran off during the incident, was found alive according to The Florida Fish and Wildlife on Thursday, August 31. The incident remains under investigation.
Neighbors who witnessed the harrowing incident firsthand rushed to help the Florida man and his dog during the bear encounter.
"I heard what sounded like a dog screaming. I rolled my window down and could see in the dark a bear standing over the dog," Jackie Coggin, who lives nearby, said, per Fox News.
Coggin drove her vehicle between the bear and the man, using her headlights to startle the animal. Her actions caused the bear to release the dog, and additional individuals rushed to aid the man, who was lying on the ground
What should you do if you come across a bear?
Bear encounters are not uncommon in Florida. It's essential to follow safety guidelines when encountering a bear.
In close encounters, it's advisable to stand upright, speak to the bear calmly but assertively, back away slowly while providing the bear with an escape route, and avoid direct eye contact.
Sudden or abrupt movements should be avoided, running can trigger a chase instinct, and climbing a tree is not a safe option, as bears can climb quickly.
If a bear makes physical contact, experts recommend fighting back aggressively.
If you feel threatened by a bear or notice a bear that is visibly sick, injured, dead, or orphaned, you're asked to call the FWC wildlife alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). You're also asked to contact wildlife officials if you see someone harming bears or intentionally feeding them.
