Open Post: Hosted By A Florida Man Who Fought Off A Bear To Protect His Dogs
What lengths would you go to protect your pet? In the time it took you to respond, a Florida Man has already subdued a bear from attacking his pooches! While checking out his porch one evening, Daytona Beach resident Walter Hickcox spotted an animal of the ursine persuasion creeping onto his property. Walter leaped into action, scaring away the bear and saving his buddies. At last, a story of a Florida Man using his Florida powers for good!
The fight only lasted a few seconds (but probably felt like years to poor Walter) and was caught on a home surveillance camera. via People:
In doorbell camera footage from the incident, Hickox stands on his porch with his dogs as a bear comes crashing through the doorway. Hickox acts quickly and scares off the wild animal, fighting it back and pulling a bench in front of him to block the bear from re-entering the porch. As Hickox yells and his dogs bark, the bear retreats.
“I just got attacked by a bear!” the man screams before the short video comes to an end.
Hickox sustained minor injuries in the attack. His dogs were not injured, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission news release.
Hickox told WFTV what he was thinking at the time of the attack, admitting, “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.”
You can watch the scrap here:
Walter not only protected the dogs seen in the video, but he also saved his other dogs in the house and his wife! The fight actually looks a bit scary, so thankfully, he escaped with just a few scratches. The Florida Wildlife Commission commented that this is the second incident in a week involving a bear after a woman was attacked while walking her dog (they’re both fine). Although the FWC says these cases are rare, it might be a good idea to look up some bear boxing tactics if you’re planning a trip to Florida soon!
Now I’m off to hide this video from the family cat. If she thinks I’m going to fight a bear for her, she doesn’t know how much of a coward I am!
Pic: Wikimedia Commons
