Washington state woman survives bear attack by punching animal’s nose

American black bear. Washington woman sustained non-life threatening injuries. Photograph: Michael Rose/Alamy

A woman in Washington state survived a bear attack on Saturday after she punched the animal in the nose, an official said.

The woman, who has not been named, was taking her dog out in the town of Leavenworth, in the middle of the state, when she was “charged by an adult female black bear”, the Washington department of fish and wildlife said.