Right off 14th Street, outside Orange City, is known for frequent bear visits. Blake Sprout’s family added trash can locks to keep the large animal out of their trash and away from their property.However, on Dec. 20, the Sprouts had a close encounter with a bear. “I was just letting my dogs out,” said Sprout. “‘Let’s go to the bathroom,’ and as soon as I opened the door, there were three bears there. Before I could stop my dogs, they just ran out to the bears.”The bear grabbed Sprout’s Pomeranian mix and wouldn’t let go. “I couldn’t let her die,” said Sprout. “She was screaming in pain.”So Sprout kicked what he says was a juvenile bear. “(It) dropped my dog and then attacked me and bit me in my stomach,” said Sprout. The bear then turned his focus again to Karen, the dog. The bear ran down the road with the dog in its mouth. The owner threw several rocks at it until it finally let it go.The two are recovering. Karen will be getting all the stitches removed on Friday.As for Sprout, he’s still in some pain. “I’ve got a bunch of rabies shots just to be safe,” said Sprout. “It’s pretty swollen, but it should be alright.”In the meantime, his family is taking precautions. “I’m more cautious when I come outside, and I check before I walk out with the dogs,” he added. FWC said they captured the three female cubs and an adult female. They were relocated elsewhere. More: Large black bear spotted wandering through Apopka backyards
Right off 14th Street, outside Orange City, is known for frequent bear visits. Blake Sprout’s family added trash can locks to keep the large animal out of their trash and away from their property.
However, on Dec. 20, the Sprouts had a close encounter with a bear.
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“I was just letting my dogs out,” said Sprout. “‘Let’s go to the bathroom,’ and as soon as I opened the door, there were three bears there. Before I could stop my dogs, they just ran out to the bears.”
The bear grabbed Sprout’s Pomeranian mix and wouldn’t let go.
“I couldn’t let her die,” said Sprout. “She was screaming in pain.”
So Sprout kicked what he says was a juvenile bear.
“(It) dropped my dog and then attacked me and bit me in my stomach,” said Sprout.
The bear then turned his focus again to Karen, the dog.
The bear ran down the road with the dog in its mouth. The owner threw several rocks at it until it finally let it go.
The two are recovering. Karen will be getting all the stitches removed on Friday.
As for Sprout, he’s still in some pain.
“I’ve got a bunch of rabies shots just to be safe,” said Sprout. “It’s pretty swollen, but it should be alright.”
In the meantime, his family is taking precautions.
“I’m more cautious when I come outside, and I check before I walk out with the dogs,” he added.
FWC said they captured the three female cubs and an adult female. They were relocated elsewhere.
More: Large black bear spotted wandering through Apopka backyards
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