Man survives bear attack in his own garage
A man is continuing to heal from injuries involving a bear attack that happened in his garage Thursday evening.
John Schwartz was filling up a kiddie pool on the side of his house for his granddaughter. Once the pool was filled, he walked into his garage to turn off the hose, unknowingly startling a hungry bear rummaging through his trash.
"I felt the impact of something hitting me, and it was very quick and loud," Schwartz said. "My head hurt and it knocked me against the wall, little did we know until we received the video as to what happened outside, I didn't realize I fell over the bear and continued down the sidewalk holding my head and continued into the house to retrieve a washcloth. I knew I had injuries and I had blood coming down."
The startled bear bit Schwartz on the top of his head as it quickly made its way out of the garage. He ran into his living room to his shocked wife who quickly called 911 and frantically helped cover his wound.
"We'll never forget. It was horrible, but we're lucky that it's all that happened. He has a couple of wounds but they'll heal," his wife said.
Schwartz was taken to a local hospital in eastern Pennsylvania, where he received treatment for the bite marks on his head including a tetanus shot to avoid diseases or illnesses the bear may have.
State police responded to the scene. Within hours of the attack, a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer quickly set up a bear trap to try and capture the bear responsible for the attack.
The trap is filled with donuts and sugary syrup. The smell of sweets will attract bears to the trap.
Schwartz said despite being attacked, he doesn't necessarily want the bear to be euthanized.
"It's very understandable as to why it did what it did. I surprised it and it surprised me. It had one way out and it was through me," he said.
