Bear attacks girl walking her dog, survives by 'playing dead'

PANAMA CITY, FL -- A 15-year-old girl is recovering at the hospital after she was attacked by a bear.

Leah Reeder, 15, sustained injuries to her legs, back, neck and face, ABC affiliate WMBB-TV reports. The girl was walking her dog when the bear attacked and dragged her into a ditch.

"The worst injuries are to her face," the teens mother said. "She has a huge laceration on top of her head and one across her forehead and deep, deep puncture wounds to the side of her head."

The girl says she first tried screaming for help, but then she remembered to "play dead." Her dog then charged at the bear and the animal stopped its attack and ran back off into the woods.

Wildlife officials are now looking for the bear. This is the second bear attack in the area. In the other incident, a woman suffered wounds to her head and required 30 stitches.