Additional Coverage:
- Camper found dead in suspected bear attack days after sending photos of animal to family (themirror.com)
Camper Found Dead in Arkansas, Apparent Bear Attack Suspected
A 60-year-old Missouri man camping in Arkansas was found dead with injuries consistent with a large carnivore attack, just two days after he reportedly sent his family a photograph of a bear near his campsite.
The unidentified man had been staying at Sam’s Throne Campground in Newton County when he went silent after sending the bear picture on September 30. His son, concerned after not hearing from him for a couple of days, requested a welfare check, leading to the grim discovery.
According to a press release from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the camper’s body appeared to have been dragged from his campsite. Investigators described the campsite as “disturbed,” with “evidence of a struggle and injury,” and noted “drag marks leading from the campground into the woods.”
While officials await autopsy results to confirm the exact cause of death, they stated that the extensive injuries on the man’s body are consistent with those expected from a large carnivore attack.
Sheriff Glenn Wheeler commented on the ongoing investigation: “Until the Arkansas Crime Lab completes the autopsy, we can’t 100% say it was a bear, but everything strongly indicates it.” He added, “We know without a doubt that a bear was in camp with our victim and the injuries absolutely are consistent with a bear attack.”
Authorities are now attempting to locate and dispose of the bear for testing by the Game and Fish Commission, hoping to understand what may have led to the encounter. “This is a highly unusual case,” Sheriff Wheeler stated, urging caution for anyone in the area, especially those with children. “History tells us that once a bear becomes predatory, it often continues those behaviors.”
In light of the incident and the ongoing hunt for the animal, Sam’s Throne Campground has been shut down to the public. If confirmed as a bear attack, this would mark the state’s second fatal bear attack in the span of a month, an occurrence described as “highly unusual” by officials.
Keith Stephens, Chief of Communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, expressed his shock, calling the situation “bizarre.” “I don’t even know how to put it into words, to tell you the truth.
These things just don’t happen,” Stephens remarked, adding, “It’s not even in my realm of comprehension. I’m really in shock today.”