Editorial Staff
BUTLER TOWNSHIP — A shocking incident unfolded as a 55-year-old woman found herself in a life-threatening encounter with a mother bear and her cubs earlier this week. Lee Ann Galante, now hospitalized, bravely recounted the harrowing ordeal from her hospital bed, detailing the brazen animal attack that left her with severe injuries.
“I thought I was going to die,” Galante tearfully shared with Pittsburgh affiliate WTAE, expressing disbelief that such an event could happen to her.
The attack occurred on Bellefield Drive on Tuesday evening around 8:30 p.m., according to a police report. Galante had been outside letting her dog out when the bear attacked her, causing injuries to her arm, face, neck, and head. She was swiftly transported to Butler Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Authorities from the Pennsylvania Game Commission responded to the scene and discovered the mother bear and her three cubs in a nearby tree. Despite attempts to calm the situation, the mother bear persisted in its aggression. Consequently, the decision was made to euthanize the mother bear, while the cubs were tranquilized and scheduled for relocation to an undisclosed area.
Recalling the terrifying moments preceding the attack, Galante described seeing the bear cubs in a tree from her home’s deck. When the mother bear began targeting her small Pomeranian dog, Galante intervened, leading to a confrontation that quickly escalated.
“She pushed me down, and my face went smack into our cement pad,” Galante recounted. The bear then seized her by the back of the head, causing severe injuries that required stitches and numerous staples.
Butler Township Police Chief John Hays expressed shock at the unprecedented nature of the incident, stating, “I’ve been here over 40 years and it’s never happened. We’ve never had anything like this.”
Galante’s bravery in the face of such a terrifying attack serves as a reminder of the unpredictable encounters with wildlife that can occur, even in residential areas. As she continues her recovery, her story stands as a cautionary tale for residents and authorities alike.