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VIDEO: Florida man attacked by bear while trying to save his dog

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Published  January 3, 2025 5:47pm EST
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FOX 35 Orlando

Florida man attacked by bear while trying to save his dog

A man is recovering after being attacked by a black bear cub in the front yard of a Volusia County home. Blake Sprout, the victim, was trying to break up a fight between the cub and his dog when he was bitten by the bear.

The Brief

    • A man was bitten by a black bear cub while trying to stop a fight between the animal and his dog in Orange City, Florida.
    • The confrontation began when the dog chased the cub, which was near its mother and two other cubs, after being let outside.
    • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Bear Management staff trapped the cubs and the adult bear and relocated the family group.

ORANGE CITY, Fla. - A man is recovering after being attacked by a black bear cub in the front yard of a Volusia County home.

Blake Sprout, the victim, was trying to break up a fight between the cub and his dog when he was bitten by the bear.

The encounter started after the dog reportedly chased the bear cub, which was near its mother and two other cubs, shortly after being let outside that evening.

"There were three bears and my dogs saw them and just ran straight for them," Sprout told FOX 35 News.

VIDEO: Florida man bitten by bear cub while stopping fight with his dog

A Florida man is recovering after he was bitten by a black bear cub while attempting to break up a fight between the cub and his dog. The incident was captured on video by a neighbor.

A neighbor across the street captured the attack on video, showing Sprout running into the yard to intervene as the bear had his dog, "Karen," in its mouth.

"I ran up to it and kicked it in the chest to drop her," Sprout explained. "He growled and charged and just latched onto my stomach."

The bear bit him in the stomach as he attempted to stop the confrontation.

Sprout said he may have acted impulsively but felt he had to because the dog is "part of the family."

"I couldn't just sit there and watch her die. My kids love her! I couldn't just tell them at Christmas, our dog is gone," he said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Bear Management staff later trapped the bears. 

"FWC Bear Management staff set traps on the property and successfully caught the three cubs and adult female bear, then relocated the family group," read a statement from the wildlife agency.

Wildlife trapper Bob Cross said bears are nothing to fool with, especially if they have cubs. 

"If you have a pet, walking your dog at night or in the daytime, and you come across a bear, it is advisable to just go the other way," he said.

The FWC is reminding the public to secure food attractants, such as garbage, pet food and bird seed, around their homes and avoid feeding bears to prevent conflicts.

If you feel threatened by a bear, encounter a sick, injured, dead, or orphaned bear, or wish to report someone harming or intentionally feeding bears, contact FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Jan. 3, 2025. FOX 35's Kelsie Cairns also spoke with the victim, Blake Sprout, about the incident.

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