Pennsylvania man bitten on the top by bear throughout assault in his storage

DANVILLE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man says he is paying much more consideration to his environment after a shock assault by a bear within the storage of his residence.

John Swartz, 60, and his spouse Lori, 59, had been watching TV at their residence exterior Danville on the night of July 27 when he remembered he needed to flip off a hose he’d left working to fill an inflatable pool. So he walked into the two-car storage, the place the shutoff valve was situated — unaware {that a} bear had wandered in a minute earlier.

The following factor he knew, he stated, he was thrown in opposition to shelving items, heard a growl and knew instantly it was a bear. When he turned to flee, the bear bit him on the top. Holding his injured head, he stumbled again towards the home, however surveillance video later confirmed a second encounter with the animal.

“Fortunately, the bear didn’t retaliate after I tripped over him,” he instructed The (Sunbury) Every day Merchandise.

His spouse, listening to a scream, met him on the door and shortly known as 911 as he tried to cease the bleeding. Searching the window whereas ready for the ambulance, he noticed the 250-pound (114 kilogram), tall, skinny animal ambling by their RV.

On the hospital, docs confirmed that his head accidents had been superficial chunk marks. His shirt, which had two giant paw prints on the shoulders, was taken by a Pennsylvania Recreation Fee officer for DNA testing. The sport fee additionally arrange a entice baited with doughnuts to attempt to catch the animal.

“It’s very comprehensible as to why it did what it did,” John Swartz instructed WOLF-TV. “I shocked it … It had a method out and it was by means of me.”

These days, nevertheless, he and his spouse are far more cautious across the residence after darkish.

“We glance rather well earlier than we go exterior now,” he stated. “Particularly if it’s round 8:30 or later, I’m cautious.”