66-year-old man hunted and killed by a 'predatory' black bear as he drank morning espresso at his cabin in Arizona woods
- An Arizona man having fun with his morning espresso was mauled and killed in a black bear assault on Friday.
- The bear was shot and killed, however its sufferer “succumbed to accidents,” authorities stated.
- The native sheriff’s workplace known as the deadly assault “extremely unusual and strange.”
A black bear mauled and killed a person at a campsite in Arizona on Friday in what authorities stated was a “extremely unusual” assault.
66-year-old Steven Jackson from Tuscon was attacked by the animal simply earlier than 8 a.m. within the distant woods of Groom Creek, about 100 miles north of Phoenix.
In accordance with a number of witness accounts and a preliminary investigation, Jackson was having espresso on his property the place he was constructing a cabin when a male black bear attacked him, dragging him about 75 toes down an embankment, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s workplace stated in a press release.
Neighbors “who heard the sufferer screaming tried to intervene by shouts and automotive horns,” however the bear wouldn’t let go, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
One neighbor ultimately shot and killed the bear, which was within the means of consuming Jackson, with a rifle, however Jackson had already “succumbed to his horrible accidents.”
“Our honest sympathies exit to Mr. Jackson’s household,” Sheriff David Rhodes stated. “I can’t specific how deeply unhappy this case is and may solely say our prayers are with you.”
The assault, which gave the impression to be “predatory in nature,” is “extremely unusual and strange,” authorities stated — noting there had solely been one different deadly bear assault because the Eighties within the space.
There additionally didn’t seem like something on the location that may have provoked the assault, like meals or a cooking web site.
Bear assaults typically contain “some nexus to meals,” Darren Tucker, a discipline supervisor with the Arizona Recreation and Fish Division, stated. Although “nothing jumped out at us as being apparent of why this occurred,” he added, per ABC Information.
The bear additionally appeared to be wholesome and confirmed no clear indicators of being diseased or sick, Tucker stated.
Black bears can weigh round 400 kilos and measure 5 to seven toes tall when standing upright
The sheriff’s workplace added there’s now no risk to public security given the bear was killed, however reminded residents it’s unlawful to shoot bears “except there’s an instantaneous risk.”
