Current:Home > StocksBear kills Arizona man in "highly uncommon" attack-LoTradeCoin
Bear kills Arizona man in "highly uncommon" attack
View Date:2024-12-23 21:03:11
A 66-year-old Arizona man was fatally mauled by a black bear in an unprovoked and "highly uncommon" attack Friday morning, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said in a news release about the incident.
The "predatory" attack took place early Friday morning when the victim, Steven Jackson, was drinking coffee at a table on his property where he was building a home. Authorities said there did not seem to be anything on the site that would have attracted the bear or caused an attack, such as food, a cooking site or access to water.
"It appears that a male black bear attacked Mr. Jackson, taking him unaware, and dragged him approximately 75 feet down an embankment," the statement said.
After hearing the victim's screams, neighbors and witnesses attempted to distract the bear by honking car horns and shouting, but it would not let go of Jackson until one neighbor shot the animal with a rifle, the statement describes.
However, by the time the bear let go, authorities said Jackson had already succumbed to his "horrible injuries."
According to YCSO and Arizona Game and Fish, this attack was very unusual and only the second known fatal bear attack since the mid-1980s.
The bear, which was killed, is no longer a threat to the public, but officials have warned campers and visitors to the area to take precautions such as locking up food in a vehicle and not leaving out items like toothpaste, which can attract the animal to a campsite.
YCSO said it will be doing further investigations into Jackson's death, while Arizona Game and Fish will continue investigating the cause of the attack, which officials believe may have just been a predatory response by the bear.
Both institutions also reminded people not to shoot bears unless they pose an imminent threat to themselves or someone else.
- In:
- Arizona
- Black Bear
- Bear
Simrin Singh is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.
veryGood! (54)
Related
- Top Federal Reserve official defends central bank’s independence in wake of Trump win
- When does 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem' come out? Cast, trailer, what to know
- Some renters may get relief from biggest apartment construction boom in decades, but not all
- When do new 'Futurama' episodes come out? Cast, schedule, how to watch
- Inspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017
- Jonathan Taylor joins Andrew Luck, Victor Oladipo as star athletes receiving bad advice | Opinion
- Cardi B Throws Microphone at Audience Member Who Tossed Drink at Her
- Pregnant Shawn Johnson Is Open to Having More Kids—With One Caveat
- COINIXIAI Introduce
- Mattel tried to report financials. All anyone wanted to talk about was 'Barbie'
Ranking
- Who will save Florida athletics? Gators need fixing, and it doesn't stop at Billy Napier
- Pregnancy after 40 and factors you should weigh when making the decision: 5 Things podcast
- Anchorage homeless face cold and bears. A plan to offer one-way airfare out reveals a bigger crisis
- Man dies after being electrocuted at lake Lanier
- Former North Carolina labor commissioner becomes hospital group’s CEO
- 'Haunted Mansion' is grave
- American nurse, daughter kidnapped in Haiti; US issues safety warning
- Cyber breaches cost investors money. How SEC's new rules for companies could benefit all.
Recommendation
-
Whoopi Goldberg calling herself 'a working person' garners criticism from 'The View' fans
-
Forecasters say Southwest temperatures to ease some with arrival of monsoon rains
-
These scientists explain the power of music to spark awe
-
Rams DT Aaron Donald believes he has 'a lot to prove' after down year
-
The 15 quickest pickup trucks MotorTrend has ever tested
-
Economy grew solid 2.4% in second quarter amid easing recession fears
-
How does post-concert sadness impact people with depression differently?
-
Economy grew solid 2.4% in second quarter amid easing recession fears