Bears have been a common sight lately in Lehighton, but an encounter Friday night was much too close for a family on Pine Hollow Drive.

Bernie Utrata said his wife arrived home from work and let both of their American bulldogs go outside.While in the bedroom, she heard the younger 60-pound Maci barking vigorously at what turned out to be a nearly 300-pound black bear."Our older 80-pound dog Ginger was standing at the door bleeding from the neck," Utrata said."From all accounts, the bear had the dog's head in its mouth and got spooked when Maci started going crazy."The family took Ginger to an emergency veterinary hospital in the Lehigh Valley, where she was treated for puncture wounds on the top of her head, scratches on her chest and an ear injury."She had to receive stitches in her ear and her wounds were drained so they wouldn't abscess," Utrata said. "She's beat up pretty good."Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are aware of the attack and said they plan to visit the area soon to set a trap.Utrata said bears are a huge problem in the area and he has seen at least six in the vicinity of his property over the last few months.Not far from Pine Hollow Drive, on Westside Road, a bear mauled and killed a 20-pound terrier mix dog in late August.Then, just last week, a 250 to 300-pound black bear drew plenty of onlookers when it rumbled through a residential Lehighton neighborhood and scaled a tree near Third and Alum streets."It's getting out of control and we're all concerned," Utrata said. "I've gotten reports from neighbors that there are two mothers and four cubs in the area."Like with the previous attack, game commission officials believe the dog approached the bear out of curiosity.With cubs likely in the area, a bear will go on the defense."It's just natural for a bear to try and protect her cubs," Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation officer Cory Bentzoni said.The game commission advises residents keep any trash inside a shed or garage and remove any potential source of food for a bear.In Utrata's eyes, Maci saved Ginger's life."If she hadn't started barking and scared that bear away, we don't know what would have happened," he said."It's just a sad situation when you need to be afraid to let your wife and kids outside."