A 64-year-old woman from the US State of Maine punched a bear that was chasing her dog, prompting the bear to bite, state wildlife authorities said, NBC News reported.

The woman was treated for puncture wounds to her wrist after the confrontation, the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said in a statement.

The dog was unharmed.

The woman, a resident of Porter, confronted the black bear "head on" after it chased her dog out of nearby woods, the wildlife department said.

"And when the bear stood up, she stood up as tall as she could, then punched the bear in the nose, whereupon the bear bit her in the right hand, puncturing her wrist," it said.

The bear released the woman and fled, the department said.