Watch a Florida Dad Scare Off a Black Bear Chasing His Dog

Quick Take

• Josh Martinez's instinct to stand his ground worked, though wildlife officials say one small mistake could have made it backfire. See how Josh reacted →
• Dogs are involved in more serious black bear encounters than most pet owners realize, though the reason has nothing to do with the bear's aggression. Learn the dog danger →
• Making yourself look big is only safe under one specific condition. Do you know what it is? See the wildlife guidance →
• The bear didn't enter the yard looking for a fight, and what it was actually after could make your backyard a target too. See what drew the bear →

Seeing a black bear in your backyard is startling enough. Seeing one chasing your dog is another matter entirely. In this viral clip from Florida, a family’s Goldendoodle races through the yard with a black bear close behind. Seconds later, the dog’s owner comes outside, makes himself look big, and shouts until the bear turns and runs. It worked in this situation, although wildlife officials stress that the safest response to a bear depends on what the animal is doing and how close you are.

Black Bear Sighting Outside of Family Home

The footage was captured at a family home in the Florida Panhandle near Destin in August 2022. Local news reports described a black bear chasing the family’s dog through the property while a home security camera recorded the encounter. The dog escaped unharmed, and no people were injured.

Florida Dad Scares the Bear Away

At the beginning of the clip, a woman steps outside as the family’s dog, a Goldendoodle named Salomon, runs through the yard. Moments later, the black bear comes into view behind him. She yells for help as the chase moves toward the house.

Josh Martinez then comes outside and puts himself between the bear and his family. He plants his feet, raises his arms, and shouts at the animal. The bear quickly changes direction and retreats.

Some of what Martinez does lines up with official guidance for dealing with a black bear that has entered a residential yard. The New Jersey Government recommends making loud noises and making yourself appear larger when trying to scare a black bear away, provided the animal has a clear escape route. Florida wildlife officials offer similar advice for bears in yards. However, people should not approach a bear to provoke a confrontation. During a close encounter, remain calm, do not run, and slowly back away toward a secure area when possible.

In this case, the combination of Martinez’s shouting and imposing posture appears to have been enough. The bear turns around and leaves the yard, allowing Salomon and the family to get safely back inside.

Will Bears Attack a Dog?

Black bears generally try to avoid confrontations, but interactions with pets can become dangerous very quickly. Dogs may bark at, chase, or corner a bear, and the bear may respond defensively. BearWise notes that many serious encounters involving people and black bears also involve dogs, particularly dogs that are off leash.

The Connecticut Government warns that bears may defend food, cubs, or themselves from a dog they perceive as a threat. As the agency puts it, “A dog that interrupts a bear’s dinner is asking for trouble.” There is no way to know from this video why the bear entered the yard or exactly what happened before the chase began, so assuming it was searching for food or that the dog provoked it would be speculation.

The safest approach is to prevent the encounter in the first place. Wildlife agencies recommend keeping dogs close and on a non-retractable leash in bear country, bringing pets inside when a bear is nearby, and checking the yard before letting a dog outside, especially at night. Food, garbage, birdseed, and pet food should also be secured so bears have less reason to linger around homes.