77-year-old Peter Rizzuto of Aspen, Colorado, was awoken from his afternoon nap by a bear that was casually nibbling on his ankle, according to The Huffington Post.
Colorado’s Parks and Wildlife had requested to put a trap in Rizzuto’s backyard, but the man refused to allow it on his property, according to the news outlet Aspen Times.
“I’m worried it might trap the wrong bear,” explained Rizzuto.
The Aspen resident’s encounter with the bear was reportedly fairly civil.
“I thought it was a German shepherd,” Rizzuto told the Aspen Times.
“I started petting it and saying 'nice doggy.' It then took my ankle but didn’t break the skin. Then I saw and looked down at his feet, and I see these big claws with really beautiful nails, and at this time I realize he’s a bear."
Once the bear realized the man was awake, he decided the interaction had to come to an end.
“He sort of backed up and looked at me, and I looked at him,” explained Rizzuto.
Rizzuto’s backyard is reportedly open, and children come and go in the area as well, according to Pars and Wildlife spokesman Mike Porras. The bear reportedly hasn’t returned since the incident and neighbors have been taking the necessary precautions.
“It could have been a very serious conflict,” stated Porras.
“The bottom line is, this is about human health and safety. No one wants to put a bear down. But when a black bear is not of humans or is approaching humans, that is a cause for concern.”
