ARIZONA

Necropsy finds bear that killed man near Prescott in good condition,' negative for rabies

Kye Graves
Arizona Republic
Area of bear attack near Groom Creek south of Prescott in June 2023.

A necropsy, done on the black bear that killed 66-year-old Steven Jackson in an 'exceedingly rare' attack in the Groom Creek area last week, found the animal to have been in "good condition with no apparent signs of disease," according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Dr. Anne Justice-Allen, a wildlife veterinarian with Game and Fish, conducted the evaluation on the carcass, finding the bear to be a 7- to 10-year-old adult male, weighing 365 pounds.

"It was in good condition with no apparent signs of disease. An examination of the stomach found human remains consistent with the injuries found in the victim. Additionally, native vegetation and seeds were found inside the bear. The amount of body fat on the bear indicated it was in good nutritional condition," Game and Fish said in the release.

A test on the bear's brain stem for rabies came back negative as well. According to the statement, there has only been one recorded case of a bear testing positive for rabies in Arizona, dating back to 1971.

Previous coverage:Man dies after 'exceedingly rare' bear attack near Prescott

The official cause of death listed for the bear was from multiple gunshot wounds after a neighbor witnessed the attack and tried to stop it. Game and Fish officials also believe that the bear acted in "what appeared to be an unprovoked predatory attack."

Those who find themselves encountering a black bear can heed these tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

  • Do not follow or approach the bear.
  • Do not feed the bear.
  • Move calmly away from the area while monitoring the bear.

If approached by a bear:

  • Move away slowly.
  • Keep the animal in sight.
  • Speak in a calm, low, strong voice.

If attacked:

  • Get low, possibly into a rut or a ditch.
  • Lay on your stomach while covering your neck and spread your legs to make it difficult for the bear to turn you over.
  • Keep a backpack on to grant additional protection to your body.
  • Do not struggle or scream.
  • When the bear stops attacking, do not move until the bear has completely vacated the area.