An Arkansas bear attack that claimed the life of a 60-year-old Missouri man has stunned residents and wildlife officials, raising new concerns about the growing danger of predator encounters in rural America.
Authorities found the man’s body near Mt. Judea, Arkansas, just days after he sent photos of a bear wandering through his campsite. The Newton County Sheriff’s Department said the victim suffered “extensive injuries consistent with those expected from a large carnivore attack.” Sheriff Glenn Wheeler confirmed, “We know without a doubt that a bear was in camp with our victim and the injuries absolutely are consistent with a bear attack.”
Officials are now searching for the bear, believed to be a young male, while keeping the campground at Sam’s Throne closed to the public. Wheeler cautioned residents to remain vigilant: avoid leaving food near campsites, don’t approach bears, and carry bear spray or other defensive tools.
This marks the second bear attack in Arkansas in a month — a chilling reminder that nature is not always peaceful. The last confirmed fatal bear attack in the state before this year occurred in 1892.
Keith Stephens of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission captured the disbelief many share, saying, “These things just don’t happen… It’s not even in my realm of comprehension. I’m really in shock today.”
His words echo a broader truth: Americans who treasure the outdoors must now balance freedom and adventure with caution and respect for a wild that sometimes bites back.
