Man Attacked by Rabid Bear in Pennsylvania
A terrifying encounter with a wild bear recently took place in Pennsylvania, leaving a man battling rabies after an aggressive attack.
The shocking incident unfolded on January 19, when Andrew Nierer, a local resident of Jim Thorpe, found himself face-to-face with a dangerous 100-pound black bear while on his way to a store.
The Chase and Attack
Security footage captured the intense moment as Nierer tried to flee from the bear, but the animal continued to chase him down.
Before he could get away, the bear lunged at him, scratching and biting him as it tried to subdue its prey.
Luckily, a neighbor nearby acted quickly and shot the bear, saving Nierer from further harm.
“It could’ve been a lot worse,” Nierer told local news station WYOU.
“Luckily, he saved me. He shot it.”
Rabies Confirmed
The Pennsylvania Game Commission was called in to investigate, and after testing the bear, they confirmed it had rabies.
They noted that the animal’s behavior was highly unusual for a black bear, with the aggressive nature of the attack being a clear indication that something was wrong.
“An adult male bear aggressively approached a man then proceeded to bite and scratch him, exhibiting abnormal behaviors for a black bear,” they said.
Nierer’s Reflection on the Attack
Despite the terrifying experience, Nierer showed a surprising amount of empathy toward the bear.
He explained that the animal was likely hungry and disoriented due to the strange weather patterns this winter, which have caused bears to remain active instead of hibernating.
“They’re hungry. They’re starving.
They’re supposed to be in hibernation.
This weather is weird lately,” he said.
“I feel bad for the bear ‘cause they really do not bother you that much.”
A Rare and Dangerous Disease
Rabies in bears is extremely rare, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission stated that this case is isolated.
However, they also emphasized that rabies is a serious disease that poses a risk to all mammals, including humans.
Fortunately, the commission noted that since male bears typically hibernate alone, other bears are less likely to be exposed to rabies in this case.
Recovery and Next Steps
Nierer is expected to make a full recovery and has already received appropriate medical treatment.
His brush with death serves as a reminder of the dangers that wild animals can pose, even in the most unexpected circumstances.
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