Minnesota Woman Heroically Chases Bear to Save Her Dog (video)

A Minnesota woman leapt into action when a black bear began chasing her beloved German shepherd Zeus

A Minnesota woman bravely sprang into action when a black bear began chasing her dog, Zeus, fearing for his life and running after them.

Bailey Jacobson was leaving her Maple Grove home with her family dog, Zeus, on Tuesday night when they encountered a group of unexpected visitors. A home security camera captured the heart-stopping moment when Zeus, a German shepherd, started trotting toward a mama bear rummaging through a garbage can with her three cubs nearby.

Bailey Jacobson ran after the bear as it chased Zeus down the driveway of her Maple Grove home

The cubs quickly fled as Zeus approached, with Jacobson following obliviously. Once she spotted the mama bear, she let out a blood-curdling scream. The bear then chased Zeus down the driveway. After a brief pause, Jacobson ran after them, and the trio disappeared.

“For me, it was just that natural instinct of thinking I couldn't live with myself if something happened,” Jacobson told KARE 11. “As a worried pet owner, you think, okay, what do you do? Do you have a fight-or-flight instinct?”

The mama bear could be seen digging through a garbage can with three cubs at her side moments before the tense encounter

Her immediate reaction was to try to protect Zeus as much as possible. However, when she got about 50 feet from the bear, reality struck, and she turned and sprinted back home without her dog.

From her screened-in porch, Jacobson anxiously waited as minutes ticked by. She finally breathed a sigh of relief when Zeus emerged from the woods, apparently unharmed.

Jacobson came roughly 50 feet away from the bear when she realized she was in danger and hurried home without Zeus. Luckily, her beloved pet returned minutes later

Encounters with wildlife are common for Maple Grove's 70,000 residents. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has deemed the state "bear country," noting that while black bears are naturally cautious, conflicts can arise when interacting with domestic pets or damaging property.

The agency urges Minnesotans to limit the availability of "bear attractants" like birdseed, dog food, trash, and grill grease. Their website advises people to back away slowly if they encounter a bear, not to run, and only to raise their voices if the bear approaches.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Wildlife urges residents to remove 'bear attractants' like trash and birdseed from their property and back away upon encountering the creatures

“If the bear does not leave on its own but approaches, it’s time to try to scare it away: boldly shout, bang pots, slam doors, or throw something,” the agency instructs.

Jacobson admitted that chasing after the bear was likely not the safest approach but vowed to do it again if it meant protecting her beloved dog. “I think any pet owner would agree, you would do anything for your dog, and if that means chasing a beardown and making as much noise as possible, I think you would do it,” she said.