Man wakes up from nap to find bear with its jaws wrapped around his ankle
File photo of black bear. (Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
ASPEN, Colo. -- A 77-year-old man woke up from a nap on his deck last week to see a furry animal approaching him.
"I thought it was a German shepherd" from the neighborhood, Peter Rizzuto told the Aspen Times (http://bit.ly/1KaZB6K). "I started petting it and saying nice doggy."
“It then took my ankle but didn’t break the skin. Then I saw and looked down at his feet, and I see these big claws with really beautiful nails, and at this time I realize he’s a bear, being the hick I am, but not really. I’ve lived here 45 years.”
Luckily for Rizzuto, the bear released his ankle and started backing away.
"I guess he didn't like the taste," Rizzuto joked. "He sort of backed up and looked at me, and I looked at him."
Rizzuto told the Aspen Time he went into his house and the bear went away.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Mike Porras told the Times that while Rizzuto's story might be funny, it's also cause for concern.
"That incident could have gotten very ugly very quickly. When a bear is close to a human and has an ankle in its jaws, I would think that is something our officers would find concerning," Porras told the Times.
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