Man Fights Off Black Bear to Protect His Dogs [Video]

A man was captured in a video trying to save his dogs from a potential bear attack. 

Walter Hickox courageously fought off a black bear who tried to enter the porch of his home in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The doorbell camera footage shows Walter standing on his porch with his dogs when a bear suddenly appears. The large animal comes crashing through the doorway.

Walter acted quickly and fought the wild animal before pulling a bench in front of him. He used the bench to block the door to prevent the bear from re-entering the porch.

As Walter yells, his dogs are heard barking at the background as the bear retreats.

“I just got attacked by a bear!” Walter yells before the short video comes to an end.  

Walter obtained minor injuries and his dogs were not injured, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported.

He told WFTV that “Not a lot went through my head at the moment, other than what’s going to happen if he gets past me and into the house where the rest of my dogs and my wife was at.” 

The FWC has not yet captured the bear as of Thursday.

“FWC bear biologists and law enforcement officers immediately responded to the scene and are attempting to capture the bear,” the release states. “Per FWC policy, staff will humanely kill the bear if captured since it poses a threat to human safety.” 

A similar incident was reported in DeBary, Florida. On Jan. 13, a woman was attacked by a black bear while walking her dog in her neighborhood.

She was tackled by the bear and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Her dog was unharmed.

According to the FWC, the Daytona Beach attack was “the second incident of a bear injuring a person within a week’s time” following the attack in DeBary, but stated, “these incidents are extremely rare in Florida.” 

FWC advises people to “back away slowly” if they come face to face with a wild bear. People should not climb up trees or run. 

“Bears are wild animals and must be respected. Even though they are typically quiet and shy animals, they have the potential to seriously harm humans,” the FWC added.

Source: People