Woman Miraculously Escapes from Bear Attack, Thanks to a Hair Clip and Loyal Dog

A woman in Yukon, Canada, survived a scary bear attack thanks to her hair clip and her loyal dog Luna.

God often protects us in ways we don’t expect. Even small things, like a hair clip, can be part of His plan to keep us safe.

Vanessa Chaput knows a lot about bears because she grew up in a bear country. On June 30, 2023, she was out for a run with Luna when they saw three grizzly bears on the trail.

Vanessa tried to stay away from the bears, but Luna got excited and ran after two of them. This made the third bear, a big male, very angry. It was mating season, so the bear was extra protective of its territory.

The bear charged at Vanessa. She tried to hide behind a tree, but the bear was too fast. It grabbed her head in its mouth. Vanessa curled up to protect herself.

She was wearing a plastic hair clip from Walmart, and when the bear bit down, the clip broke in its mouth. Vanessa believes it surprised the bear, and it let go for a moment.

Vanessa quickly hid behind a tree, but the bear came at her again. It stopped right in front of the tree and hit the ground with its paw.

Just then, Luna started barking loudly. This distracted the bear, giving Vanessa a chance to escape. “If it wasn’t for my dog barking, the bear was going to come finish the job,” Vanessa said later.

Vanessa was hurt badly, but she managed to get to the road. She called 911 and her husband, David.

David had a feeling something was wrong before Vanessa left for her run. He rushed to help her. When he found her, she was standing with Luna, covered in blood. David could smell the strong scent of the bear even from far away.

Vanessa had deep cuts on her head and body. Her ear was torn, her arm was broken, and she had many bite wounds. Her right arm was badly hurt, with broken bones and damaged nerves. Her triceps muscle was torn in two places.

Even with all these injuries, Vanessa was very brave. Her husband said she’s the toughest person he knows.

Vanessa spent weeks in the hospital getting treatment. The park rangers closed the campground nearby and had to put down three bears that matched the ones Vanessa saw.

Even after this scary experience, Vanessa doesn’t blame the bear, herself, or Luna. She knows it was just bad luck. “It was wrong place at the wrong time. It could have happened to anybody,” she said.

Vanessa grew up in Watson Lake and learned about wildlife from her dad. She knows how strong bears can be, especially during mating season. She said, “It’s a one in a million chance that I survived a bear in rut… it’s unbelievable I survived.”

Many people in Haines Junction and all over Yukon have been helping Vanessa and her family. David said, “We’re so grateful for all the support. It’s really helping us get through this tough time.”

Kim Titchener, president of Bear Safety & More says bear attacks are happening more often. She gave some tips for staying safe in bear country:

1. Make noise while you walk or run so bears can hear you coming.
2. Carry bear spray and keep it where you can reach it quickly.
3. Go out in groups when you can.
4. Keep children close and dogs on a leash.

WATCH: Woman Miraculously Escapes from Bear Attack

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