Wildlife officials are asking Florida residents to do their best to avoid bears after the camera caught a second attack in one week.
Florida resident Walter Hickox is getting praise on social media for a video of him fighting a bear trying to enter his home. Officials said it was the second bear attack in one week in the state.
Crazy pic.twitter.com/vdAH34z78Z
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) January 21, 2022
“Not much is going through my head at the moment, other than what would happen if he crossed me and walked into the house where the rest of my dogs and wife were,” Hickox told WFTV of his recent encounter with a black bear trying to enter his home.
The footage, captured by Ring’s camera, shows the bear entering the Hickox Terrace area in Daytona Beach last week. Hickox responds by repeatedly pushing the bear until he can block the entrance with a seat. The Daytona citizen himself was slightly injured in the clash.
Hickox now says he will install a new door. Authorities told local media that the bear in the video had not been caught.
Wildlife officials have warned residents to avoid the bears at all costs, especially in light of the Hickox incident and another attack last week. In the same week as the Hickox problem, a woman in DeBary was attacked by a bear while walking her dog.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the woman said he “jumped” on her and threw her to the ground. She suffered minor injuries and a concussion.
An adult bear was later found nearby, and it was killed out of concern for public safety. Bears occupy nearly 49% of Florida, according to wildlife officials.