Bear Attacks Prompt New Bear Self-Defense Law and Inspire Heroic Dog Owners

A 65-year-old man in Litchfield, Connecticut, was attacked by a bear after it entered his porch while he was trying to help his dog. The bear, believed to be a female black bear, had been attracted to birdfeeders on the porch. The man intervened and was also attacked. Both the man and his dog were taken to medical facilities for their injuries. The bear fled into the woods and could not be located by state police. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection advises taking precautions such as removing bird feeders and securing garbage cans to avoid bear interactions.