Man punches bear in the nose to rescue beagle

May 30 (UPI) -- A northern Michigan man kicked a black bear and punched it in the nose to rescue his dog, which the predator was attacking, wildlife authorities said.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in an official report that a man in the Boyne Falls area of Charlevoix County let his beagle outside on a cable at about 4:30 a.m. and he spotted a bear running up his driveway moments later.

The beagle barked at the bear, leading it to swipe at the canine with its claws.

The man attempted to use the dog's cable to pull it inside, but the tether became tangled. The man kicked the bear to ward it away from the dog.

"When the bear came back and bit the dog, the owner punched the bear in the nose and it retreated enough for him to shut the door," the report said.

Conservation Officer Andrea Erratt responded to the home and advised the man to remove his birdfeeders, clean up the sunflower seed husks in his yard and stop feeding corn to turkeys and deer in his back yard. He was also advised to spread some moth balls on the property to ward off wildlife.

The beagle is recovering from its injuries after receiving several stitches in its side and rear end, the DNR said.