70 Stitches, Staples for Bear-Attack-in-House Victim

Bear that followed family dog into house tore into man's scalp

A central Pennsylvania man is currently recovering after being attacked by a bear inside his own house.

On Monday around 3 a.m., Rich Moyer let his dog outside of his Newport, Pennsylvania home. Suddenly the dog ran back inside while being pursued by a frightening intruder, a black bear.

When the bear ran into his living room, the 6-foot-6, 300 pound Moyer began to wrestle with the animal. The fight woke up his wife Angela who joined in the scuffle. During the struggle, she landed on the porch with the bear still on top of her. Moyer says he dove in head first and tried to rip the bear off his wife.

"I guess it's the male instinct," said Moyer. "You got to protect your family."

As Moyer continued to struggle with the animal, he says he felt the bear tearing into his scalp.

"I'm outside with the bear and I hear the bear chomp on the back of my head," said Moyer. "Literally just pulling my hair on the back of my head, just pulling, and I'm like 'this is unbelievable.' I mean, I really thought this was it." 

Fortunately for Moyer, the bear eventually decided it had enough and ran off into the woods. Moyer received more than 70 stitches and staples in the back of his head as well as 20 bite marks on his hands, arms and shoulders. His wife is also recovering from similar wounds.

Moyer built his house on dozens of acres of wooded land. Before the attack, Moyer was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Now however, he's thinking of moving and giving up his hobbies for good.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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