A shocking video from Bradbury, California, shows a teenage girl's confrontation with a wild bear. The incident, which occurred in 2021, was captured by a backyard security camera.
Seventeen-year-old Hailey Morinico was inside when she heard her dogs barking. Upon investigating, she found a brown bear and her cubs wandering along a wall, leading to a confrontation with her dogs. The bear swiped at and picked up Valentina, Hailey's mother's emotional support animal.
"When I knelt down, I was literally face to face with her,"
Hailey told CNN, recalling the intense moment. In a split-second decision, Hailey rushed over and shoved the mama bear off the wall before hurrying her dogs back inside. Experts warn that this incident points to a deeper problem with human-wildlife encounters.
Hailey's actions were motivated by her desire to protect her family, particularly her mother. As she explained,
"I did this for [my mom]"
Author's summary: Teenager shoves bear to save family dog.