A necropsy of a bear that killed an Arizona man in an unprovoked attack last week was healthy, according to Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Anne Justice-Allen.
She conducted the examination of the carcass following the attack. It was determined that the animal was a male black bear between 7 and 10 years old and weighing 365 pounds, which is in the normal range for American black bears.
Steven Jackson, 66, was sitting in a chair on his Groom Creek-area property near Prescott, Ariz., on June 16 when the bear attacked.
“Neighbors reportedly tried to scare the bear away and stop the attack but were unsuccessful,” said the AZGFD. It was in the process of consuming Jackson when a neighbor eventually shot the bear. By the time officers from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Game and Fish Department responded to 911 calls, the man was dead.
“An examination of the stomach found human remains consistent with the injuries found in the victim,” said the necropsy press release. “Additionally, native vegetation and seeds were found inside the bear.
The amount of body fat on the bear indicated it was in good nutritional condition.”
Additionally, the bear’s brain stem was tested for rabies at the Arizona Department of Health Services state laboratory. Results were negative.
Arizona has recorded only one case of a bear having tested positive for rabies, in 1971 and 15 bear attacks have been reported in the state since 1990.
“AZGFD officials believe this bear acted in what appeared to be an unprovoked predatory attack by the animal,” said the department. “Bears are predators, and when acting aggressively toward humans can attack, injure and kill.”
There have been other reports of aggressive bears in the U.S.
recently, including WBBM’s report of a bear that ate 60 cupcakes in a Connecticut bakery and KYW Radio’s report of a bear sighting in Pennsylvania.
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