A Minnesota woman sprang into action when a black bear began chasing her dog and, fearing for her life, she ran after them.
Bailey Jacobson was leaving her Maple Grove home with the family dog, Zeus, Tuesday night when they came face to face with a group of unexpected visitors.
A home security camera captured the eerie moment when Zeus began trotting in the direction of a mother bear, who was digging in a trash can with three cubs by her side.
The puppies fled when the German shepherd approached, and Jacobson inadvertently followed them. However, once he saw the mother bear, he let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The bear followed Zeus as he skipped down the driveway. After a momentary pause, Jacobson ran after them and the trio disappeared from sight.
A Minnesota woman sprang into action when a black bear began chasing her beloved German Shepherd Zeus.
Bailey Jacobson ran after the bear as it chased Zeus down the driveway of his Maple Grove home.
“For me, it was just that natural instinct of thinking that I couldn’t live with myself if something happened,” Jacobson said. KARE 11.
‘As a concerned pet owner, you think, okay, what do you do? Do you have fight or flight instinct?
He said his instinctive reaction was to try to protect Zeus “as much as possible.”
Jacobson got to within about 50 feet of the bear when reality hit him. He suddenly turned around and headed home without his dog.
The Minnesota woman waited from her covered porch as the minutes passed. However, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief when Zeus appeared from the forest, seemingly unharmed.
It’s not uncommon for Maple Grove’s approximately 70,000 residents to rub shoulders with wildlife.
The mother bear could be seen digging through a trash can with three cubs by her side moments before the tense encounter.
Jacobson got approximately 50 feet away from the bear when he realized he was in danger and hurried home without Zeus. Luckily, his beloved pet returned minutes later.
Encounters with bears are so frequent that the Minnesota Department of Natural Wildlife has deemed the state “bear country.”
While black bears are cautious and flighty by nature, conflicts can arise when the creatures interact with household pets or damage personal property.
The agency urges Minnesotans to limit the availability of “bear attractants” (things that smell like food), including birdseed, dog food, garbage and barbecue grease.
“Taking the initiative to secure or remove attractants will help prevent bears from becoming a nuisance,” the department’s website says. read.
In the event of a bear encounter, people are encouraged to back away slowly, not run, and only raise their voices if the bear approaches.
“Wait and see if the bear leaves on its own,” the agency says.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Wildlife urges residents to remove “bear attractants,” such as trash and bird seed, from their properties and to move away when encountering the creatures.
“If the bear does not leave alone, but approaches (for example, climbs onto the deck or puts its paws on windows or doors), it is time to try to scare it away: scream boldly, bang pots, close doors or throw something. ‘
Jacobson admitted that chasing the bear probably wasn’t the safest way to proceed, but he vowed to do it again if it meant protecting his beloved dog.
“I think any pet owner would agree, they would do anything for their dog, and if that means chasing a bear and making as much noise as possible, I think they would do it,” he said.
