Florida man injured throughout combat with bear whereas saving household canine

A Florida man was bitten within the abdomen final month by a black bear cub whereas making an attempt to interrupt up a combat between the wild animal and his household’s beloved canine. 

Blake Sprout mentioned his canine was chasing the bear cub, which was near its mom and two different cubs, after letting the canine out of his Volusia County dwelling round midnight Dec. 20, FOX 35 Orlando reported.

“He growled and charged and simply latched onto my abdomen,” Sprout advised the information outlet of the bear. 

MISSING DOG IN VIRGINIA CAPTURED AFTER 6 MONTHS ON THE RUN: ‘ALMOST LOST HOPE’

Blake Sprout was attacked by a black bear cub final month whereas making an attempt to defend his canine.  (WOFL)

The canine, a Pomeranian named Karen, was attacked first, he mentioned. 

“There have been three bears, and my canines noticed them and simply ran straight for them,” he mentioned. 

A neighbor captured the assault on video, which exhibits Sprout operating into the yard to intervene because the bear had Karen in its mouth.

“I ran as much as it and kicked it within the chest to drop her,” Sprout defined. 

MISSING DOG RESCUED AFTER SPENDING 18 HOURS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY: OWNER WAS ‘PANICKED’

Blake Sprout exhibits a bruise from a bear chunk to his abdomen. (WOFL)

Sprout mentioned he intervened as Karen was being attacked as a result of she’s “a part of the household.”

“I could not simply sit there and watch her die. My youngsters love her,” he mentioned. “I could not simply inform them at Christmas, ‘Our canine is gone.’”

The bears have been later trapped by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) and relocated. 

Blake Sprout holds his canine, Karen, after an assault by a younger bear.  (WOFL)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“FWC bear administration workers set traps on the property and efficiently caught the three cubs and grownup feminine bear, then relocated the household group,” the company mentioned in a press release to the outlet. 

In Florida, it is authorized to shoot and kill a bear in self-defense or to defend sure property.