Herding Dog Survives Likely Bear Attack In Rural San Bernardino County

YUCAIPA (CBSLA.com) – A herding dog may have gone toe-to-toe with a bear in the San Bernardino County mountain community of Yucaipa this week.

Denise Casey told KCAL9 that on Tuesday she found Sydney, her herding dog, outside her Yucaipa home with a nasty gash running from her back to her belly.

"We didn't hear a peep out of her," Casey said. "She did not bark or anything."

Left in the mud beside Sydney was a 5-inch bear footprint. Casey snapped photos and took them to U.S. Forest Service rangers, who confirmed her fears.

"They said, 'Yes, definitely a bear,'" Casey said. "Their thoughts were that they probably startled each other and he clawed out at her."

Yucaipa is a horse-friendly area and Casey said she wants to ensure that her neighbors are on the lookout for bears in their back yards.