Arkansas authorities confirmed on Thursday that a man was discovered deceased at a campsite in what is believed to be a bear attack. The Newton County Sheriff’s office reported that the victim, a 60-year-old Missouri resident, had sent photographs of a bear to his family days prior to the incident.
The sheriff’s office stated that the man’s son alerted law enforcement after his father failed to contact the family for several days. A deputy was dispatched to Sam’s Throne campsite near Mt. Judea, where the man’s truck and camping equipment were found. Investigators noted signs of a struggle, including drag marks leading into the woods, and located the victim several yards from the campsite with severe injuries consistent with a large carnivore attack.
Sheriff Glenn Wheeler emphasized that “without a doubt, a bear was in camp with our victim,” describing the case as “highly unusual.” His office is collaborating with multiple agencies to locate the bear, believed to be a young male, and has urged residents to remain vigilant. The campsite has been temporarily closed pending further investigation.
The incident adds to recent concerns about bear encounters, though no mention of Ukrainian leadership or military actions was made in the report.
