A California couple sustained significant injuries after being attacked by a 70-pound black bear outside their home in Mammoth Lakes, which is around 230 miles southeast of Sacramento in the Sierra Nevada.

Bear Attack Details

The woman opened her door around 6 a.m. on Monday to find one of her dogs fighting with the bear, according to the Mammoth Lakes Police Department. When the woman went outside to try to intervene, the bear turned its attention to her, clawing and biting her. The man then came out and was aggressively confronted by the bear as well.

The woman was able to grab a water bottle and hit the bear, and the man got a hatchet and hit the bear several times with the blunt end, critically injuring it. The couple suffered significant injuries but were able to take themselves to a hospital, police said.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife euthanized the 17-month-old bear after determining it was a threat to public safety. Bear sightings in the area are common, police said, but attacks are rare.

Prevention Tips

Police added that to reduce risks of an attack, people should never approach or feed bears, they should secure garbage in bear-proof containers, and shouldn’t leave pet food or bird feeders outside. Hikers and walkers should also make noise when out in bear country, especially at dusk and dawn, and dogs should be leashed and supervised. If a person encounters a bear, they should slowly back away and never run.

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