An unidentified man and his pet dogs survived a brutal bear attack while making his way along Homestead Trail in Homer late Monday.

Jason Henneman of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game told Anchorage Daily News Tuesday that the man and his pet German shepherd and “another, similar-sized dog” chanced upon a female brown bear while making their way through the woods.

The assistant wildlife biologist added that the man wasn’t carrying any weapon or a bear spray when the attack happened. Instead, the man acted in self-defense: he made himself look as big as possible and “loudly tried” to scare the bear and her cubs away.

However, the bear stood her ground and charged at the man from about 10 yards. The man also explained to Henneman that he had been in the same predicament before and wasn’t sure if the bear did a “false charge,” or if the animal “head-butted him or swatted him.”

The bear’s weight and force was enough to knock the man off his feet. His instincts kicked in and he immediately covered the back of his neck and assumed a fetal position. Unfortunately, this did little in protecting his exposed body parts as the bear inflicted significant wounds on his arm, head and back of his neck.

The man was able to walk to a nearby house after his dogs chased the bear and her cubs to the woods, according to KTUU.

Homer Volunteer Fire Department chief Mark Kirko, who responded to the scene following a dispatch call, said that a medic was already tending to the man’s wounds when he and his team arrived.

The man lost one of his dogs amidst the bear attack but was later found. He was then transported to Southern Peninsula Hospital, explained Kirko.

Following the incident, Herreman posted several bear warning signs along the trail, starting at Baycrest Hill and all the way toward the Bridge Creek Reservoir.

He returned the following day to make sure that “nothing attracted the bears.”

Henneman further explained that the area will see more of the bears for its warm weather. Along this line, he advised residents to secure their trash and bird feeders and be vigilant when hiking the trails.

His agency has no plans to track down the bear considering that it was just defending her cubs.

“We’re just making sure the public knows that there are bears in the area,” pointed Henneman.

Kirko said that the man and the dogs are “doing pretty well” and are expected to survive the horrid experience.

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