Emily Miles was on a walk around noon in Rincon Canyon near her home, when her two dogs bolted out of the trees followed by the bear.
In moments the animal was on its hind legs and swinging at the woman who was trying to defend herself. Long red scratches on her back shows where the bear claws shredded Miles' shirt and tore her skin.
Miles tried to get away, turning and running a short distance. That is when the bear chased her down, and took a bite into her upper left thigh. She hit the ground hard, breaking a rib and still vigorously turned over to kick towards the bear while screaming.
"He took me down. He grabbed me. He sunk his teeth into my thigh and knocked me down," said Miles.
Blood was coming out of four puncture wounds from the bite, during the harrowing ordeal.
"Looking at him, I knew he could kill me in an instant. He was probably 300 pounds and six feet tall standing," said Miles.
The bear reared back again, and Miles said the two stared eye to eye, before the animal came down on all fours, and slowly moved back into the trees. After a few steps, the bear stopped and "walked away and kept looking back at me," she said.
Wildlife experts have set traps in order to catch the bear and test it for rabies. Miles is taking anti-rabies medication as a precaution. It is believed the bear may have come down from more mountainous areas because of the ongoing drought conditions.
For more information about the California Black Bear and what you should do if you are in their habitat, go to : Keep me Wild
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter