Man Killed in Suspected Bear Attack at Arkansas Campsite Days After Photographing Animal

Authorities say a 60-year-old man from Missouri was found dead Thursday in what appears to be a fatal bear attack near Mt. Judea, Arkansas—just two days after he sent his family photos of a bear roaming near his campsite.

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office reported that the man’s body was discovered several hundred yards from his tent in a remote area called Sam’s Throne. Evidence at the scene included signs of a struggle and drag marks leading away from the site. His son had requested a welfare check after not hearing from him for several days, despite having received the bear photos earlier in the week.

The man’s injuries were described as “extensive” and “consistent with those expected from a large carnivore,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s department. While officials haven’t definitively confirmed a bear attack, Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said all indications strongly point in that direction. “Until the Arkansas Crime Lab completes the autopsy, we can’t 100% say it was a bear, but everything strongly indicates it,” he said.

Photos the victim had taken appeared to show a young male bear. However, investigators have not yet confirmed if that specific bear was responsible for the attack. A search was underway over the weekend to locate the animal, which the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plans to euthanize and test if captured.

“We know without a doubt that a bear was in camp with our victim,” Wheeler added. “And the injuries absolutely are consistent with a bear attack. This is a highly unusual case. We are early in the investigation and search and will update as we can.”

Officials shut down the Sam’s Throne campground temporarily and warned anyone in the area to exercise extreme caution, especially families with children. Wheeler offered safety tips for anyone camping in Arkansas’s wilderness, including storing food away from sleeping areas, avoiding interaction with bears regardless of their size, and carrying bear spray or other forms of protection.

“I don’t want this to become open season on any bear that someone may see,” Wheeler warned. “Most bears fear humans and run away. But at the same time, don’t put yourself or others in jeopardy.”

If confirmed, this would be the second deadly bear attack in Arkansas in just a month. A 72-year-old man was mauled by a black bear in early September and later died from his wounds. Before that, the last fatal bear encounter in the state occurred more than 130 years ago, in 1892.

Keith Stephens, the chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, called the incident shocking and deeply unusual. “These things just don’t happen,” Stephens told the Arkansas Times. “It just seems so bizarre. It’s not even in my realm of comprehension.”

In the earlier September attack, officials confirmed that the bear responsible had been euthanized. The current investigation remains open, with search crews continuing to comb the forested region near Mt. Judea.