BEAR HANDS
Dad survives mauling by 450-POUND bear that wandered into family’s kitchen
A COLORADO dad survived a vicious pummeling by 450-pound bear that was wandering around the kitchen this week.
On Friday, Dave Chernosky, 54, miraculously lived after coming across the enormous animal checking out the contents of his fridge.
Chernosky described his shocking encounter with the dark brown bear in Aspen after a suspicious noise alerted him to its presence downstairs.
"I was asleep and heard something in the kitchen. And I just kind of laid there thinking, 'Okay, something's wrong,'" Chernosky told .
"So I went to the kitchen, saw the bear there. He was already in the fridge and cupboards and stuff like that.
"My kids were in the basement, so I wanted to make sure he stayed upstairs."
The brave father-of-two recalled he tried to coax the wild creature into the garage and away from his loved ones.
But the frightened animal panicked when he hit the garage door opener, ran back inside, and attacked him.
"I literally thought I might be dead," Chernosky told . "It felt like a brick hit me in the head.
"As soon as we looked at each other, he just smacked me with his paw one time.
"And after I got out of the way and started yelling, he left," said the dad who suffered cuts to his face and neck.
He dialed 911, telling the dispatcher "a bear came in here and he hit me with his paw so I'm bleeding."
It felt like a brick hit me in the head.
Dave Chernosky
Chernosky was rushed to Aspen Valley Hospital before being transferred by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction.
There, he had stitches on his cheek, jaw, ear and back but is set to make a full recovery after his wild encounter.
"Luckily, the bear wasn't really after me," he said.
Matt Yamashita, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) area manager, said authorities responded to the incident at around 3am.
The investigation into how the nosy bear entered the home is underway but the department found the animal and euthanized it.
Chernosky's battle with the black bear marks the second attack in recent days.
Near Manitou Springs, an area south of , a woman was attacked by a bear on Saturday morning.
Officers caught the bear near the scene of the attack using trained dogs to sniff her out.
The sow was put down with "humane" euthanasia when wildlife officers caught it nearby.
Wildlife authorities there said the woman was "very lucky" to leave the attack with minor injuries.
The bear's baby cubs were taken to a rehabilitation center and will be trained to avoid human contact to avoid meeting the same fate as their mom.
Local authorities have urged people not to leave trash or food out where the hungry animals can access it.
"Black bears are not naturally aggressive, but they are strong, powerful animals," CPW notes on its advisory. "A bear intent on getting a meal can easily injure someone who gets in its way.
"Every year, bears that become too comfortable around people have to be destroyed.
"Every time we’re forced to destroy a bear, it’s not just the bear that loses. We all lose a little piece of the wildness that makes Colorado so special."
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