Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wednesday have confirmed a bear attack occurred last Friday.

It happened around 5 a.m. near Meyer Falls in the town of Florence and injured a 64-year-old man. He was treated for two puncture wounds and a small cut. The victim, along with a woman, are both employees of the Nature Conservancy and were conducting a bird survey when the attack happened.

DNR officials say the bear was not much bigger than a large dog. It charged at the two and bit the man on his right thigh.

Officials say attacks like this are rare and believe the bear was a mother, trying to protect at least one cub that was spotted there.

"Although this is very rare, and it doesn't occur much, anytime that you're a wild animal; wild animals are unpredictable, Wisconsin DNR Conservation Warden Kelly Crotty said. "If you do see a bear, enjoy it from a distance or if it starts to come towards you, make yourself look bigger, yell, wave your arms and attempt to deter the bear that way."

DNR officials had initially closed the road to Meyer Falls but, with no more bear activity reported, it has since been re-opened.