Bear Bites PA Man Inside His Garage: Reports

DANVILLE, PA — A Montour County man survived an encounter with a bear that got into his garage and left teeth marks on his scalp, according to several local news reports.

Video footage showed the bear approaching the Danville home of John and Lori Swartz last Thursday, Fox 56 reported. John was on the side of the house, filling up a small pool for his granddaughter to use the next day.

It was around 8:45 p.m. and had gotten dark,. John walked outside to turn off the hose, not realizing a black bear was in his path and rummaging through a garbage bag, he told NorthCentralPa.com.

He went into the garage to turn off the valve, and stumbled into the bear — or "fell over" it, as he told Fox 56.

John told news reporters that he got knocked against the wall, heard a growl, and felt pain on his head.

“I grabbed my head because I knew I had an injury,” he told North Central Pa.

John heard and felt the bear leave the garage, and ran back inside, where Lori called 911 and helped him cover the bloody wound on his head.

He saw the bearwandering by their RV before the ambulance arrived and estimated it was about 250 pounds, added the report from North Central Pa.

State police stood watch with assault rifles as first responders took John away in an ambulance, reports said. Doctors confirmed a bear bit him on the head, though the injuries were minor, and he got a tetanus shot.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission set up a trap for the bear, which is full of donuts and "sugary syrup" to attract it, as Fox 56 reported. John Swartz said he does not necessarily want the bear to be euthanized.

“It’s very understandable as to why it did what it did," he told Fox 56. "I surprised and it surprised me. It had one way out and it was through me," he said.

Both he and Lori said they will be more cautious outside, as his wounds are healing, the reports added. Game officials have yet to capture the bear.