SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A California man came face-to-face with a bear and instead of running, fought back.
Carl Moore, 73, says he punched the bear to keep the animal from attacking his small dog.
"I ain't run from nothing, I have never in my whole life and I ain't going to start now", he said.
Moore says he went to check on his dog, Lacy, and found her whimpering, as the bear was inching closer.
He says he tried to scare the bear away, but when it didn't leave, he punched it in the face.
"The man or beast that I run from ain't been born, and his momma's already dead," he said.
Wildlife officials do not recommend taking similar action. They say unless a person is under attack, they should not have any physical contact with bears since they are unpredictable.