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Lake Carmel Man Scratched Up After Bear Fight

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - A New York man is lucky to be walking away from a bear fight with just bruises and scratches.

Christopher Head is recovering after being clawed by a black bear early Wednesday morning in his Lake Carmel backyard.

Head told Kent Police he initially tried to scare the bear away from his home by banging pots, but then the bear just hit him.

WCBS 880 reporter Catherine Cioffi talks with SPCA Police Chief Ken Ross who says there have been reports of a bear with her cubs in the area.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi reports

"To take things into your own hands, all you're doing is putting yourself into danger. And this goes for also, during mating season, and when animals are feeding as well, because they become very territorial at that time," said Ross.

Authorities say it's always best to leave wild animals alone.

"Although they may look cute, and you want to touch them and play with them, you have to understand that this is nature...this is wild animals, they're not tame. And their parents, their mother if she's with them is very protective," said Ross.

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