A couple in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains fought off a bear attack, authorities said. The 17-month-old bear, which also injured the couple’s dogs, was euthanized after the man fought it off with the blunt end of a hatchet.

Bear Attack Details

The attack occurred around 6 a.m. in Mammoth Lakes, near Yosemite National Park, after the woman tried to stop the bear from fighting with one of her dogs outside her home. A second dog ran outside, and the bear bit and clawed the woman. When the man tried to intervene, the bear aggressively confronted him as well, though he was able to flee after the woman began hitting the animal with a water bottle.

The man went inside and grabbed the hatchet, ending the confrontation. The couple drove to a local hospital, and their conditions were not immediately clear. Their dogs sustained minor injuries.

Law enforcement determined that the bear was a threat to public safety and euthanized the animal. The department’s chief, Dan Casbian, said in a release that bear attacks are extremely rare in the area. The animals typically avoid humans and will flee when confronted, he said.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.