Spokane7
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September 23, 2010 in Region
Zucchini handy for fending off bear attack
This image provided by the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office shows the zucchini used by a Montana woman to fend off a bear attack Thursday Sept. 23, 2010 in Frenchtown, Mont.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
HELENA, Mont. — A Montana woman fended off a bear trying to muscle its way into her home today by pelting the animal with a large piece of zucchini from her garden.
The woman suffered minor scratches and one of her dogs was wounded after tussling with the 200-pound bear.
The attack happened just after midnight when the woman let her three dogs into the backyard for their nighttime ritual before she headed to bed, Missoula County Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Maricelli said. Authorities believe the black bear was just 25 yards away, eating apples from a tree.
Two of the dogs sensed the bear, began barking and ran away, Maricelli said. The third dog, a 12-year-old collie that wasn’t very mobile, remained close to the woman as she stood in the doorway of the home near Frenchtown in western Montana.
Before she knew what was happening, the bear was on top of the dog and batting the collie back and forth, Maricelli said.
“She kicked the bear with her left leg as hard as she could, and she said she felt like she caught it pretty solidly under the chin,” Maricelli said.
But as she kicked, the bruin swiped at her leg with its paw and ripped her jeans.
The bear then turned its full attention to the woman in the doorway. She retreated into the house and tried to close the door, but the bear stuck its head and part of a shoulder through the doorway.
The woman held onto the door with her right hand. With her left, she reached behind and grabbed a 14-inch zucchini that she had picked from her garden earlier and was sitting on the kitchen counter, Maricelli said.
She threw the vegetable. It bopped the bruin on the top of its head and the animal fled, Maricelli said.
The woman called for help from a relative staying with her. They found the collie outside, unable to move, and took it to a veterinarian.
The dog appeared to be fine today, but the vet was keeping it for observation, Maricelli said.
The woman did not need medical attention for the scratches on her leg, though she got a tetanus shot as a precaution, Maricelli said.
Fish and wildlife officials were searching for the bear today.
Maricelli interviewed the woman, but said the sheriff’s office was complying with her wish not to identify her.
“She was very, very shaken, and it kind of took the humor portion out of it for me,” Maricelli said. “She said it had this horrific growl and was snarling.
“(But) she can see the humor in it, and she wanted the story put out so the local residents can take precautionary measures,” he added.
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misjustice on September 23 at 9:11 a.m.
I can attest to the power of the zucchini! Last summer, I somehow missed seeing a growing fruit during picking forays in the garden, when I finally spotted the zucchini, hidden amongst the vines, it was almost the size of a small canoe! That zucchini could have fed a family of 6 for a week; or been used as a weapon to deter a critter attack.
eagleproducer on September 23 at 9:28 a.m.
misjustice: Thanks for the chuckle… I always deliberately let one grow to epic size at the end of the season and grind/freeze it for holiday breads.
Lots of hungry bears this year getting up in folks’ grills, eh? It was a horrible year for huckleberries so they are still skinny and getting grumpy.
MrNatural on September 23 at 10:03 a.m.
…was that a 12 inch or 12 gauge zucchini?…
ok I can’t help it but I’m guessing she is a Tea Party member because a 200 lb black bear has no chance against a “Momma Grizzly”
maria on September 23 at 10:37 a.m.
Okay, who submitted this to Fark already?
/out yourself!
SpokaneLiberal on September 23 at 12:42 p.m.
While I laughed and consider this a perfect Montana thing to do I also think - who am I kidding a bear??? Don’t throw things at it you fool!?!?!
eagleproducer on September 26 at 2:40 p.m.
Maria: Busted!