List of Fatal Bear Attacks

Posted by Franken at April 11, 2008 8:49 PM and is filed under Research

List of fatal bear attacks in North America by decade

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This is a list of known fatal bear attacks that occurred in North America by decade in reverse chronological order. Three species of bear, the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) and the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) are identified in the article. The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), the Kodiak Bear and the Mexican Brown Bear are treated as subspecies of the Brown Bear. There were about 52 recorded deaths due to black bears between 1900 and 2003 and about 50 deaths due to brown bears and about 5 due to polar bears in the same period. The most recent data is the most reliable and complete, but does not necessarily include all of the fatal attacks that have occurred in North America. Prior to recent decades bear attacks were not well documented, particularly those which took place in isolated regions. As a result there were more attacks and fatalities than have been recorded as shown here, particularly in Canada and Alaska.

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Contents

[show]

[edit] 2000s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, comments
Don Peters, 51, male November 25, 2007 Brown Mountain Aire Lodge west of Sundre, about 90 km northwest of Calgary. The 51-year-old did not return from a hunting trip in Western Alberta. He was killed by a grizzly near his vehicle after going hunting alone. His body was found three days later. His rifle was found nearby. It had been fired but there was nothing to indicate the bear had been hit. Officials were trying to trap the bear but would not say whether it would be killed if captured. Upon capture, the bear may be shot, moved to another area or let go, depending on an evaluation of the bear; said Alberta resources spokesman Dave Ealey. [1]
Robin Kochorek, 31, female July 20, 2007 Black The 31-year-old woman was reported missing on July 20th after being separated from friends while mountain biking at Panorama Mountain Resort, British Columbia. She was killed by a black bear who was right where the body was recovered at 8 a.m. July 21st. Indications were that the bear had preyed upon this person or obviously was trying to claim ownership. The bear was shot on site by RCMP.[2]
Samuel Evan Ives, 11, male June 17, 2007 Black Taken from a tent in American Fork Canyon in the Uinta National Forest in Utah County, Utah where he was sleeping with his stepfather, mother and 6-year-old brother. The bear was later killed by state Wildlife officials.[3]
Jean-Francois Pagé, 28, male April 28, 2006 Brown Fatally mauled while staking mineral claims near Ross River, Yukon, Canada. He unknowingly walked right past a bear den containing a sow and 2 cubs. [4]
Elora Petrasek, 6, female April 13, 2006 Black She was killed and her mother and 2 year-old brother seriously injured in an attack in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.[5]
Arthur Louie, 60, male September 20, 2005 Brown Killed by a female and two cubs while he was walking back to his mining camp after his truck had a flat tire at Bowron River, British Columbia.[6]
Jacqueline Perry, 30, female September 6, 2005 Black Killed in a predatory attack at the Missinaibi Lake Provincial Park, north of Chapleau, Ontario, Canada. Her husband was seriously injured trying to protect her. Ministry staff shot and killed the bear at approximately 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2005, near the area where the fatal attack occurred in a remote area of the park. [7][8] The bear involved had already attempted to attack two fisherman an hour before this attack occurred
Harvey Robinson, 69, male August 26, 2005 Black Fatally mauled while picking plums at Selkirk, north of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Rich Huffman, 61, male; Kathy Huffman, 58, female June 23, 2005 Brown Killed in their tent at a campsite along the Hulahula river 12 miles upriver from Kaktovik in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Isabelle Dube, 35, female June 5, 2005 Brown Killed while jogging with 2 friends on the Bench Trail in Canmore, Alberta
Merlyn Carter, 71, male 2005 Black Found dead in the main cabin of his fishing camp located 300 km Northeast of Ft. Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada.
Timothy Treadwell, 46, male ; Amie Huguenard, 37, female October 2003 Brown Found by their pilot, dead and most of their bodies consumed at Kaflia Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska on October 6, 2003. Treadwell was world-famous for his books and documentaries on living with wild bears in Alaska. State Troopers investigating the incident recovered an audiotape of the attack. Only a few days before, Treadwell filmed himself with the bear that killed him in the background, while commenting that it was a bear just like this one — older, struggling to bulk up for the winter — that posed the most threat to humans. The two were killed on the last night before their scheduled pickup, after spending several months in the Alaskan bush. [9]
Forestry worker April 17, 2003 Black Stalked, killed and partially consumed by a large, black bear near Waswanipi, a village in northern Quebec.
Christopher Bayduza September 2002 Black Attacked and killed at a remote oil rigging site in northeastern British Columbia.
Maurice Malenfant September 2002 Black Attacked and killed in his campsite in Gaspé region of Quebec.
Ester Schwimmer, 5 months, female August 2002 Black Bear grabs and kills 5 month old infant from stroller on the porch of home in Fallsburg, New York.
Timothy Hilston, 50, male October 30, 2001 Brown Bear attacked and killed an elk hunter as he was gutting an elk in Western Montana. [10]
Adelia Maestras Trujillo, 93, female August 2001 Black Bear breaks into a house in New Mexico and is confronted by the elderly owner who dies during the attack.
Kyle Harry, 18, male June 3, 2001 Black Attacked and killed at a rural campsite 25 km. east of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada.
George Tullos, 41, male July 14, 2000 Brown His partially consumed body was found at Run Amuk campground in Hyder, Alaska.
Mary-Beth Miller, 24, female July 2000 Black Attacked and killed while on a training run in Quebec, Canada.
Glena Ann Bradley, female May 2000 Black Killed and partially consumed by a 112 pound female and her 40 pound yearling. The attack occurred near the Goshen Prong/Little River trail junction 1.5 miles upstream from Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

[edit] 1990s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Ned Rasmussen, male November 1999 Brown Found dead 2 days after he disappeared on a deer hunting trip on Uganik Island, Alaska.
Ken Cates, 53, male May 25, 1999 Brown Killed while hiking on the Funny River Trail near Soldotna, Alaska. Investigators found bear blood at the scene, and determined that Cates fired two shots with his rifle scoring at least one hit. The bear was never found.
Craig Dahl, 26, male May 17, 1998 Brown Last seen alive hiking in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park. His partially consumed remains were found three days later.
Audelio Luis Cortes, 40, male February 8, 1998 Brown Killed by a single head bite while working with a seismic crew in the Swanson River oil field near Kenai, Alaska
Patti McConnell, 37, female August 17, 1997 Black Died from injuries while defending herself from attack near Liard River Hotsprings, British Columbia
Raymond Kitchen, 56, male August 17, 1997 Black Died from injuries while attempting to rescue McConnell. McConnell's 13 year old son and an unidentified 20 year Calgary Alberta man were also injured in the attack Liard River Hotsprings, British Columbia
Christine Courtney, 32, female July 5, 1996 Brown Killed while hiking in Kluane National Park, Yukon. Her husband was also attacked but survived.
Sevend "Sven" Satre, 53, male June 1996 Black Killed while checking fencelines at his rural ranch in British Columbia
Shane Fumerton, Bill Caspell October 9, 1995 Brown Killed by bears claiming shot elk near Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia
Marcie Trent, 77, female; and her son, Larry Waldron, 45 July 1, 1995 Brown Killed by a bear defending a moose carcass on the McHugh Creek Trail near Anchorage, Alaska.
Colin McClelland, 24, male August 10, 1993 Black Killed as a result of a crushed skull after a 240 pound male Black bear tore open the door to his trailer and attacked at WAGH Mountain, Colorado. The bear was later killed by game wardens.
John Petranyi, male October 3, 1992 Brown Attacked and killed by a female with 2 cubs on the Loop Trail, Upper McDonald Valley, Glacier National Park. The attack occurred less than 200 yards from the campground area where Julie Helgeson was dragged from her sleeping bag and killed in August 1967.
Sebastien Lauzier, male June 14, 1992 Black Attacked and killed on field assignment near Cochrane, Ontario.
Raymond Jakubauskas, 32, and Carola Frehe, 48 October 11, 1991 Black Bates Island, Opeongo Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Male camper May 26, 1991 Unknown Marten River Campground, Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada

[edit] 1980s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Gary Goeden, male found September 1, 1987; missing since July 28, 1987 Brown His partially consumed remains were found at Natahki Lake, Many Glacier Valley, Glacier National Park.
Charles Gibbs, 40, male April 25, 1987 Brown He was last seen alive following and photographing a female with cubs at Elk Mountain in Glacier National Park. Investigators recovered film of the female approaching in attack mode at 50 yards.
William Tesinsky, photographer October 1986 Brown Approached an adult female too closely in the Otter Creek area of Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park.
Brigitta Fredenhagen July 1984 Brown Dragged from a tent during the night and killed at a backcountry campsite at the southern end of White Lake in Yellowstone National Park.[11]
Roger May June 1983 Brown Dragged from a tent during the night and killed at the Rainbow Point campground in the Gallatin National Forest just Northwest of Yellowstone National Park.
Laurence Gordon, male September 30, 1980 Brown Attacked and killed at the Elizabeth Lake campsite in the Belly River valley, Glacier National Park.
Male and Female August 17, 1980 Unknown Killed near Zama, Alberta, Canada
Jane Ammerman, female; Kim Eberly, male July 24, 1980 Brown Attacked and killed during the night at an illegal campsite at Divide Creek in the St. Mary valley, Glacier National Park.
12 year old boy July 18, 1980 Black Killed at Leo Creek, British Columbia, Canada while fishing with two friends

[edit] 1970s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Unknown, male June 19, 1978 Black Porcupine Mountains State Park, Michigan
George Halfkenny, Mark Halfkenny, Billy Rhindress May 13, 1978 Black Stalked and killed while fishing near Radiant Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Mary Pat Mahoney, 22, female September 23, 1976 Brown She was dragged from a tent and killed at Many Glacier campground in Glacier National Park.
Alan Precup, male August, 1976 Brown He disappeared while backpacking in the Alaskan wilderness. Days later, searchers found his campsite with his bare skeleton, one intact hand, and both feet, still booted.
Harry Walker June 1972 Brown Killed by a bear that was feeding on food that was left out at illegal campsite near Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park.
John Richardson, 31, male 1971 Black Killed while camping at West side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

[edit] 1960s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Male October 1, 1968 Black Killed near Atikokan, Ontario, Canada.
Julie Helgeson, 19, female August 13, 1967 Brown Killed at Granite Park campsite in Glacier National Park by a female bear. Attack occurred during the night; bear dragged the victim off while still in her sleeping bag. Attack site was less than 200 yards from where John Petranyi was attacked and killed on the loop trail in 1992. Helgeson's companion, Roy Ducat, was severely mauled during the attack.
Michelle Koons, 19, female August 13, 1967 Brown Killed at Trout Lake campsite in Glacier National Park by a female bear.

Although Helgeson and Koons were the same age and killed on the same night, these were separate attacks by different bears approximately 10 miles apart.[12]

[edit] 1940s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Unknown August 1942 Species undetermined Killed at Old Faithful campground in Yellowstone National Park.

[edit] 1920s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Joseph B. "Frenchy" Duret, 60 June 12, 1922 Brown Infamous trapper, prospector, guide and cattleman trapped and then was attacked and partially devoured by a huge grizzly. Frenchy crawled 1.5 mile back towards his ranch and died in Frenchy Meadow on Slough Creek in the Absaroka Wilderness


[edit] 1910s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
John Graham, 63 May 4, 1912 Brown Killed on Crevice Mountain, MT by a bear that escaped from his trap. The bear lost 3 toes and became known as "Old Two Toes"
Frank Welch, 61 September 8, 1916 Brown Killed at a camp near Sylvan Pass, Yellowstone. A bear was later killed in this area and it was "Old Two Toes".
Charles Brown III, 18, male 1916 Brown Killed at a roadside camp in Yellowstone National Park

[edit] 1880s

Name, age, gender Date Species Location, Comments
Franklin Devereaux, 52, male 4 Sept 1883 Unknown Killed in Cheboygan County, Michigan; victim was a hunter and trapper. Both Bear and victim were found dead — the bear of a gunshot wound and the hunter from a blow to his head from the bear.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Bear attack victim fired rifle", Cnews, November 30, 2007. 
  2. ^ "Bear attack blamed for woman's death in British Columbia", Seattle Times, July 23, 2007. 
  3. ^ "Boy attacked in tent and killed by black bear near campground", Deseret Morning News, June 18, 2007. 
  4. ^ "Mining company charged with negligence in Yukon bear attack", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, May 7, 2006. 
  5. ^ "Tenn. mountains searched for bear that mauled family", USA Today, April 15, 2006. 
  6. ^ "Bear snares set in wake of mauling death", CBC Canada, CBC, September 25, 2005. 
  7. ^ "Black bear kills woman camper north of Chapleau, Ont.", CBC, September 7, 2005. 
  8. ^ National Geographic: Hunter and Hunted -- Ambush
  9. ^ "Fatal bear mauling recorded on tape", CNN, October 9, 2003. 
  10. ^ Grizzly Kills Hunter in Western Montana. Livestock Weekly (November 8, 2001).
  11. ^ History of Bear Management in Yellowstone. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
  12. ^ Chapter Six: GUARDIANS OF GLACIER. Man In Glacier. Glacier Natural History Association. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.

[edit] General References

 

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