Haw Creek man says dog saved him from bear that charged at him near home

HAW CREEK, N.C. (WLOS) — A man living in Haw Creek said he had a scary encounter with a bear Wednesday morning, June 22, and he credits his dog with saving his life.

“The fact that it charged me is what scares me the most,” said Billy Green.

Bears are common near his home in Haw Creek. In the past, Green said he has never had any issues.

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“I’ve never experienced, not like that, because I see them out here all the time, like almost daily basis they’re out here,” he said.

That changed when he was taking his two dogs out Wednesday morning.

He saw a bear and yelled to try to scare it away, but he said it kept approaching him.

“About that time that bear came running, charged me and pinned me, between my car and the house,” Green said.

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He said he believes his puppy barking at the bear may have startled the bear and he wondered if there were cubs nearby.

It’s what his other dog, Shayla, did that he said saved his life.

“When the bear came at me the first time, it was about a foot away from me, she jumped, and when the bear jumped back it was trying to swipe at her, but she got the bear down the bank,” Green said.

Green said he will be more cautious around his home from now on and is considering carrying bear spray in the future.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has a wildlife interaction helpline to report bear behavior, damage, injury and co-existing issues. The number is 866-318-2401.

BearWise, an organization that helps people live responsibly with black bears, offers tips for what you should do and how to behave if you encounter a bear. Click HERE for that list.