The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is investigating whether environmental changes triggered by human activity have contributed to recent fatal bear attacks.
What’s happening?
The Arkansas Advocate reported that two bear attacks occurred in the state, 80 miles apart. The first was in Franklin County on Sept. 3. The second happened four weeks later in Newton County.
Both attacks involved young male black bears and were presumably unprovoked.
According to in-depth reporting by the Arkansas Times, they were the first fatal bear attacks to occur in Arkansas in over a century.
Why are the bear attacks concerning?
Despite abundant food sources in September, the first bear was malnourished and had neurological issues…