CBC News – A bear entered a Nipigon, Ont., couple’s home on Tuesday night and attacked them, prompting the family’s dog to contain the wild animal until police arrived.
The bear entered the home’s back door when the couple opened it to let their dog out around 11 p.m. ET, said Kim Rodak, a spokesperson for Northwest Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), told CBC on Wednesday.
“At that point, the bear either charged or basically just came in,” she said.
Amid the attack, the couple escaped to a bedroom and barricaded themselves while they called 911 for help. The bear wandered around the house until it somehow ended up in the basement, said Rodak.
The family’s dog held the bear off until police arrived, she said.
“The dog just stood her ground and kept barking at the bear in order to keep it down there,” Rodak.
The couple were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“They both sustained quite a few lacerations and bites from the bear and they were hospitalized, but they are expected to be released at some point today,” said Rodak.
The dog, which the owners describe as a mixed breed, was also injured.
“She received stitches and some excellent veterinary care, and she’s going to be perfectly fine,” Rodak said.
She said the officers who responded to the call had to kill the bear for public safety.
Nipigon’s Mayor Suzanne Kukko said residents were already on edge as bears seem to be becoming bolder.
“People have been really scared, apprehensive about going out alone, going for walks and things like that.”
Kukko has seen many bears during the nearly 20 years she’s lived in Nipigon, but this is the first attack she’s aware of, she said.
The mayor also said many people along Superior’s North shore have reported bear sightings over the past three weeks …
