CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (KDVR) – There’s an old saying: It’s not the size of the dog in battle, it’s the size of the battle in the dog.
Luna “the Tuna”, as her humans call her, proves that saying to be true.
“She’ll boss you around,” Luna’s owner Jordan Courtney said.
Though she’s only 6 inches tall, Luna is a regular enforcer on her pad in Castle Rock, Colorado. She’s the first line of defense for the Courtney family, morning, noon, and night – even if a bear wanders into the yard.
Courtney said her mother took Luna outside in the middle of the night on Wednesday, unaware there was an unwelcome visitor near her home.
“Then Luna ran and barked, and my mom didn’t know what she was barking at,” Courtney said.
Videos captured by her neighbor’s security cameras showed Luna had spotted a bear and fearlessly chased it across the adjacent yard.
“It was just weird to see this little pooch chasing after an adult bear,” Courtney said.
Fortunately, Luna was not injured during the confrontation. It’s unclear, meanwhile, if the bear will think twice about returning to the block.
“She’s protective of her family,” Courtney said of Luna. “She just wanted to protect the home front.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said black bears in the state are entering hyperphagia, a stage in which they try to consume as many calories as possible — sometimes over 20,000 a day — to fatten up for the winter. As the bears prepare for hibernation and forage for food, officials warn residents in urban areas may see more bear activity.
For protection, experts say making your home bear-proof is imperative for your own safety.
“Simple changes in human behavior can bring huge benefits,” said wildlife biologist Dr. Stewart Breck of the National Wildlife Research Center. “When people keep their litter and other potential bear foods, like bird seed and dog food, off-limits, they not only protect their homes and property from bear damage, but the bears do as well.”
Tips for making your home bear-proof include:
- Store rubbish in a well-secured place.
- Take out rubbish only on the morning of collection.
- Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: Ammonia is effective.
- Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
- Do not leave animal feed or forage outside.
- Attracting birds naturally with flowers and water baths instead of bird feeders, which are a major cause of bear-human conflict.
- Non-hanging birdhouses from April 15 to November 15.
- Do not feed other wildlife including deer, turkeys or small mammals.
- Do not allow bears to take up residence in your home. If you see one, yell at them, throw things at them, make noise to scare them away.
- Secure compost heap. Bears are attracted to the smell of rotting food.
- Cleaning the grill after each use.
- Thorough clean up after picnics in the yard or on the deck.
- Prevents rotting fruit from accumulating under fruit trees.
- Keeping farm animals in a fully covered enclosure. Build an electric fence if possible.
- Store cattle feed indoors, keep enclosures clean to minimize odors, and hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure.
- Installing electric fences (where permitted) around hives if you keep bees.
- Talk to your neighbors and children about bear awareness.
- Keep garage doors closed.
For more tips on bear-proofing your home and bear safety guidelines, visit the CPW website.
