NEWTON COUNTY, AR – Authorities are on high alert following a fatal bear attack at a remote campground in the Ozark National Forest, marking Arkansas’s second such incident in just a month. The latest victim, a 60-year-old man from Missouri, was found deceased at Sam’s Campground after family members reported losing contact with him.
The man, who was camping alone, had been resting on a cot in open air without a tent. Investigators discovered evidence suggesting a bear attack, including paw prints and signs that the victim’s body had been dragged from the site. Prior to the attack, the victim had sent a photo of a bear near his campsite to his family.
Keith Stevens, Communications Chief of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, emphasized the importance of locating the bear to ensure public safety. “We want people to enjoy the outdoors without fear,” Stevens said, acknowledging the unusual nature of the attacks.
Traps and trail cameras have been set up in the area to capture the bear, believed to be a juvenile black bear, similar to the one involved in a previous attack on September 3rd. In that incident, Vernon Patton was fatally attacked on Mulberry Mountain in Franklin County while on his tractor.
Stevens noted that such aggressive bear behavior is unprecedented in his 25 years of experience. Typically, bears avoid human interaction unless they’ve been habituated to people, often due to feeding.
Biologists are conducting tests to determine the health and behavior of the bears involved in both attacks, seeking any connection between the two incidents, which occurred 45 miles apart. The previous bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
The ongoing investigation aims to provide insights into these rare and troubling events, as game wardens work tirelessly to prevent further incidents.