Florida man defends dogs from bear attack

In an act of bravery, a man in Daytona Beach, Florida, confronted a black bear to protect his dogs, security camera footage shows. Walter Hickox, the resident involved, was on his porch when the bear entered the area around 7:30 p.m. on January 19, 2022, apparently attracted by the sounds of his dogs.

The video shows Hickox pushing the bear off the porch as it tried to attack his 12-year-old Dachshund, Pepper. The man quickly blocked the driveway with a bench to prevent the bear from returning and reaching his wife, Kerry Rubino Hickox, and their two other dogs, Pickles and Piper.

Amid the confusion, Walter initially thought the bear was a neighbor's dog and acted to protect his family and pets. "I didn't think much at the time, just what would happen if the bear walked past me and into the house," Hickox told a local outlet after the incident.

Walter Hickox suffered minor injuries after the attack, including teeth and claw marks on his back and arms, and required a rabies vaccination. Fortunately, neither dog was hurt.

This incident is the second bear attack reported in Florida in less than a week. Daytona Beach police confirmed that a previous attack occurred when a woman was attacked while walking her dog in DeBary. In response to these events, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has taken steps to catch the bear responsible for the attack in Daytona Beach, and a trap was set on Hickox's property.

The FWC warned that feeding bears is illegal and dangerous to both animals and people. Experts recommend securing trash, pet food, and bird feeders, as well as using electric fences to protect livestock. Additionally, they suggest walking dogs on a leash and making noise or turning on lights to deter bears before letting pets outside.

Bear attacks are extremely rare in Florida, with only 15 incidents of moderate to severe injuries to people reported in over 50 years.