Viral Video: Brave Young Woman Pushes Bear to Protect Her Dogs in Heart-Stopping Moment
Hailey Morinico jumped into action when it came to protecting her pups from a bear!
Most of us would move mountains, cross oceans or walk through fire for our dogs—some would even go head to head with a bear. In a video from 2021 that is re-circulating Reddit, a young woman does just that when her pups happen to confront a gargantuan bear that was making its way into her backyard—and you have to see it to believe it!
The viral video, which was captured by security cameras in the backyard of the home, showed Hailey Morinico quickly reacting to the raucous she heard coming from her troupe of canines. Doing some garden work, she didn’t think much when she heard her dogs barking, as it’s typical of them to do when they see other dogs or animals. However, what she wasn’t expecting to see was a bear and her two cubs scaling the wall of her yard.
While the chaos of the dog barking sent the two cubs scurrying, the larger of the group wasn’t giving up on his pursuit of the dogs, prompting Morinico to take action. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s a bear and it is taking my dog. It is lifting it up off the ground, and if I don’t do something about it, who knows what might happen to her,’” she recalled in conversation with NBC 4 Los Angeles.
Running to the aid of her dogs, her split-second decision to push the bear saved her pup’s life—and the fearless woman’s actions have since been celebrated by countless viewers in the comments of the viral Reddit post.
“If this happened to me and my dogs, I’d never stop telling this story to everyone I meet,” shared one user. “I would have had the same instincts but I probably would have tripped, missed, and gone over the wall,” joked another.
What should you do if you encounter a bear?
You might be familiar with the age-old myth, “If it’s brown, lay down, if it’s black, fight back,” but is there any truth to that saying? While wildlife encounters can be exciting, it’s important to know how to keep yourself safe, especially if you’re up against an aggressive species known for their strength or aggression.
If you see a bear in the woods, you can use a stern voice to warn it away, as well as do what you can to make yourself appear bigger—but do not run away from it.
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If a bear charges toward you, when it comes to brown bears, laying still on your stomach and playing dead is sound advice, and if the bear tries and flips you over, try your best to remain on your stomach. If the encounter becomes aggressive, then it is best to fight back. As for black bears, fighting back with all of your might is key.
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Bottom line: it’s certainly not advised to charge for a bear making its way onto your property as the woman in the video did, but her bravery and quick actions when it came to protecting her pups is something that is certainly impressive!
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