A 71-year-old lady who was discovered lifeless inside her Sierra County residence final November had been mauled by a black bear, the primary such deadly assault in California historical past.
Patrice Miller’s physique was found inside her Downieville residence on Nov. 8, 2023, by Sierra County Sheriff’s Workplace deputies who had been summoned to conduct a welfare test. Deputies found a grisly scene with proof {that a} bear had been inside, doubtless for a number of days, feeding on the girl’s stays, authorities stated.
Initially, investigators thought she had died previous to the bear’s entry. Nonetheless, an post-mortem report accomplished final month revealed that Miller was killed when the animal swiped or bit her neck, Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher instructed KCRA-TV.
“Black bears should not harmful animals, but when they affiliate our properties or cabins or campgrounds as a simple supply of meals they lose their pure concern of individuals and their actions get bolder and bolder,” stated Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the California Division of Fish and Wildlife. “That is probably the most excessive instance we’ve seen in state historical past.”
Miller’s demise is the primary recognized deadly assault by a black bear in California. Grizzly bears, that are featured on the state flag and are recognized to be extra aggressive than black bears, haven’t been seen in California in 100 years. Reviews of black bear assaults in California are uncommon and have by no means resulted in a human demise till now.
Downieville is a small mountain neighborhood, with a inhabitants of about 300 folks, on the banks of the Yuba River. It has develop into a preferred vacation spot for mountain bikers and anglers.
The bear, which was not within the residence when authorities arrived, was trapped close to the residence after Miller’s demise. The bear, a male, was euthanized and DNA evaluation confirmed the animal was the one which had attacked Miller, Tira stated.
Authorities stated Miller had been having a problem with bears on the property previous to her demise. She’d feed her cats on the entrance porch and had trash on the property.
Miller’s daughter instructed officers that “bears have been continuously making an attempt to get in by means of damaged home windows and that her mom had bodily hit one to maintain it from getting into her residence.” Her mom even nicknamed one of many bears that was a “frequent customer to the residence, and a nuisance,” in accordance with a Sheriff’s Workplace report.
California is residence to an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears that reside predominately in forest or mountain areas throughout the state. Grownup females can weigh between 100 and 300 kilos and grownup males usually weigh between 150 and 400 kilos with some upwards of 500 kilos.
The omnivores, who’re expert scavengers, are recognized to head to residential communities in the hunt for meals, notably through the spring and summer time months. In Monrovia final month, a bear visited a house and left holding a bundle of Nabisco cookies in its mouth, incomes it the nickname “Oreo.”
Black bear encounters that end in human harm are uncommon in California. Most assaults are defensive actions if the bear is defending cubs or turns into startled. Nonetheless, in some instances a bear that’s meals conditioned could develop into aggressive towards folks.
The state’s fish and wildlife company recommends that individuals who encounter a bear keep away from eye contact, make noise and again away slowly whereas additionally making themselves look greater. If a bear makes contact the individual ought to battle again, the company stated.
After Miller’s demise, sheriff’s officers cautioned residents in Downieville to shut their doorways and home windows at night time, lock automobiles and take away all outdoors meals sources, together with their rubbish.
“The Sierra County Sheriff’s Workplace extends its deepest condolences to the household and mates of Patrice Miller throughout this troublesome time,” the company wrote in a information launch final yr. “The lack of a neighborhood member is all the time a tragedy, and our ideas are with these affected by this unlucky occasion.”
