Monday night, a woman in southern Oregon was assaulted by a bear while in her backyard, according to authorities.
Monday evening at approximately 8:40 p.m., police in Medford, Oregon, responded to a report of a bear attack.
The woman stated that she was in her yard when she was attacked by a bear, suffering injuries to her left arm and leg.
“The woman’s dog intervened and was also attacked, but the two were able to chase the bear away,” police said.
The bear, believed to weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, dashed in front of a vehicle, was struck and injured, but continued to flee.
Troopers from the Fish and Game Division of the Oregon State Police assisted officers in their hunt for the bear, but it was not located.
If you observe a bear in the Medford area, you are urged to contact the police.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends making noise, yelling and clapping, and backing away slowly if a bear is approached. Officials say to fight back if attacked.
According to the government, between 25,000 and 30,000 black bears reside in Oregon.
Black bear attacks are uncommon, according to state officials. Generally, bears will avoid human contact.
However, this is at least the second instance in the past two weeks that a dog has prevented a bear assault. A lady reported being attacked by a bear in Vermont last month, but thanked her Jack Russell terrier with distracting the beast and allowing them to escape.