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Sep 5, 2019 · Fatal black bear attacks on humans are so rare -- more so than any other species of bear -- that they occur on average of once per year across North America, Garshelis said. In addition, about one black bear out of 1 million will attack a human in a predatory manner, Rogers said.
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- Julia Jacobo
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- Predatory Attacks
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After back-to-back black bear maulings in Alaska, officials warn that knowing how to respond to an attack could mean life or death.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is still on the hunt for a black bear that mauled and killed 16-year-old Patrick Cooper. Meanwhile, experts recommend caution to those venturing into bear habitat as summer heats up.
The fatal incident took place on June 18 during an annual trail race that has been held in the region for the past 29 years. The three-mile trail began at Bird Ridge in Alaska's Chugach State Park and involved a 3,400-foot vertical ascent through heavily wooded terrain.
"If we find the bear, we definitely want to kill it," said Ken Marsh, a representative from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
"This has all the earmarks of a predatory attack: A bear attack deliberately targeting a human being," said Marsh.
Cooper was reportedly texting during the time of his attack, telling his family he was being chased by a bear. It's believed he may have been separated from his fellow runners after running through thick brush and veering from the trail. Other runners reported seeing brown bears and black bears with cubs along the trail.
"It's always a surprise when they behave this way, but it is bear country," said Marsh.
Mama bears protecting their cubs are commonly believed to pose the biggest threat to human intruders. But a study published in 2011 found that 88 percent of bear attacks were by male black bears on the prowl for food.
Black bears that are surprised by humans or protecting their cubs will make displays of aggression to ward off people they perceive to be a threat.
Predatory attacks like the one that took place in Bird Ridge pose a significantly more fatal threat. Bears testing the viability of prey will quietly stalk and possibly circle their victims.
That two black bear attacks occurred in Alaska within two days of each other is rare. Only six deaths had previously been reportedly linked to black bears in Alaska in the past 130 years.
While bear populations are growing around the nation, thanks to decades of restrictions on hunting, population trends are difficult to collect in Alaska because of the region's punishing terrain and dense woods, said Marsh.
Human populations in Alaska are definitely growing. Before the 1950s, the state's population was below 200,000. As of 2016, the census estimated the population of Anchorage, near last Sunday's trail race, to be over 400,000. (Alaska's state population sits at just over 700,000.)
Marsh cautioned that as more people come into contact with wildlife, the chances for conflict also increase. Coming within 150 feet of a bear in a U.S. national park is illegal.
Bears become more active during the summer months and their mating season typically begins in July.
Traveling through wooded areas during this time of year is best done in groups. When confronted with a brown bear, officials recommend playing dead and not provoking this species, which can be more aggressive than black bears.
Two fatal and one non-fatal black bear attacks occurred in Alaska in June 2017, raising concerns about human-wildlife conflict. Learn how to prevent and respond to predatory bear attacks and the difference between black and brown bears.
Jun 6, 2024 · A woman found dead last year in a rural mountain home was the victim of the first documented fatal black bear attack on a human in California, authorities said. The grim first, spotlighting California’s growing problem of bear-human encounters, occurred in Downieville, a tiny town in the Sierra Nevada, two hours northeast of the state capital ...
Jul 29, 2024 · State wildlife agencies logged more than 46,000 recorded human-black bear interactions in 2022, with at least 18 states reporting an increase, according to a survey of data conducted by the...
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- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Learn from a bear expert how to avoid and deal with black bear attacks, based on 50 years of experience. Find out how rare and mild black bear attacks are, and how to enjoy seeing them in the wild.
Jun 23, 2023 · Learn about the stories behind 24 people who were killed by black bears in North America between 2003 and 2023. Find out where, when, and how these attacks occurred, and what precautions you can take to avoid them.
Aug 25, 2020 · A woman was killed by a black bear near Buffalo Narrows, Sask., in an apparent stalking incident. Wildlife experts say this is an extreme scenario and black bears typically avoid humans unless surprised or threatened.
