List of fatal bear attacks in North America

This is a list of known fatal bear attacks that occurred in North America by decade in reverse chronological order. In this list three species of bear are recognized: the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) and the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). For purposes of this list, Brown Bear includes the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), the Kodiak Bear and the Mexican Brown Bear. Between 1900 and 2003 there were about 52 recorded deaths due to black bears, 50 due to brown bears and 5 due to polar bears. The most recent data is the most reliable and complete, but does not necessarily include all fatal attacks that have occurred in North America. Prior to recent decades bear attacks were not well documented, particularly those which took place in isolated regions. As a result there were more attacks and fatalities than have been recorded as shown here, particularly in Canada and Alaska.

2000s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, comments
Cecile Lavoie, 70, female	May 30 2008	Black	Near La Sarre, Quebec. Lavoie went on a solo fishing trip. After she didn't return to her cabin, her husband went looking for her. He found a bear dragging her body into the woods.
Stephen Miller, 39, male	April 22 2008	Brown	Big Bear Lake, California. A famous bear trained to perform in movies unexpectedly turned on a handler, fatally biting him in the neck. Prior to the attack, the bear had been recently featured in the movie Semi-Pro. Pepper Spray was used to subdue the bear, and no further injuries were reported. The bear was a 7.5-foot (2.3 m) 700-pound (320 kg) 5 year old male named Rocky. He was being held in the "Predators in Action" animal training facility at the time of the incident. The bear's fate has yet to be determined.
Don Peters, 51, male	November 25, 2007	Brown	Mountain Aire Lodge west of Sundre, about 90 km northwest of Calgary. The 51-year-old did not return from a hunting trip in Western Alberta. He was killed by a grizzly near his vehicle after going hunting alone. His body was found three days later. His rifle was found nearby. It had been fired but there was nothing to indicate the bear had been hit. Officials were trying to trap the bear but would not say whether it would be killed if captured. Upon capture, the bear may be shot, moved to another area or let go, depending on an evaluation of the bear, said Alberta resources spokesman Dave Ealey.
Robin Kochorek, 31, female	July 20, 2007	Black	The 31-year-old woman was reported missing on July 20th after being separated from friends while mountain biking at Panorama Mountain Resort, British Columbia. She was killed by a black bear who was right where the body was recovered at 8 a.m. July 21st. Indications were that the bear had preyed upon this person or obviously was trying to claim ownership. The bear was shot on site by RCMP.
Samuel Evan Ives, 11, male	June 17, 2007	Black	Taken from a tent in American Fork Canyon in the Uinta National Forest in Utah County, Utah where he was sleeping with his stepfather, mother and 6-year-old brother. The bear was later killed by state Wildlife officials.
Jean-Francois Pagé, 28, male	April 28, 2006	Brown	Fatally mauled while staking mineral claims near Ross River, Yukon, Canada. He unknowingly walked right past a bear den containing a sow and 2 cubs.
Elora Petrasek, 6, female	April 13, 2006	Black	She was killed and her mother and 2 year-old brother seriously injured in an attack in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.
Arthur Louie, 60, male	September 20, 2005	Brown	Killed by a female and two cubs while he was walking back to his mining camp after his truck had a flat tire at Bowron River, British Columbia.
Jacqueline Perry, 30, female	September 6, 2005	Black	Killed in a predatory attack at the Missinaibi Lake Provincial Park, north of Chapleau, Ontario, Canada. Her husband was seriously injured trying to protect her. Ministry staff shot and killed the bear at approximately 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10 2005, near the area where the fatal attack occurred in a remote area of the park. The bear involved had already attempted to attack two fisherman an hour before this attack occurred
Harvey Robinson, 69, male	August 26, 2005	Black	Fatally mauled while picking plums at Selkirk, north of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Rich Huffman, 61, male; Kathy Huffman, 58, female	June 23, 2005	Brown	Killed in their tent at a campsite along the Hulahula river 12 miles (19 km) upriver from Kaktovik in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Isabelle Dube, 35, female	June 5,2005	Brown	Killed while jogging with 2 friends on the Bench Trail in Canmore, Alberta
Merlyn Carter, 71, male	2005	Black	Found dead in the main cabin of his fishing camp located 300 km Northeast of Ft. Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada.
Timothy Treadwell, 46, male ; Amie Huguenard, 37, female	October 2003	Brown	Found by their pilot, dead and most of their bodies consumed at Kaflia Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska on October 6, 2003. Treadwell was world-famous for his books and documentaries on living with wild bears in Alaska. State Troopers investigating the incident recovered an audiotape of the attack. Only a few days before, Treadwell filmed himself with the bear that killed him in the background, while commenting that it was a bear just like this one — older, struggling to bulk up for the winter — that posed the most threat to humans. The two were killed on the last night before their scheduled pickup, after spending several months in the Alaskan bush.
Denis Chrétien	April 17, 2003	Black	Stalked, killed and partially consumed by a large, black bear near Waswanipi, a village in northern Quebec.
Christopher Bayduza	September 2002	Black	Attacked and killed at a remote oil rigging site in northeastern British Columbia.
Maurice Malenfant	September 2002	Black	Attacked and killed in his campsite in Gaspé region of Quebec.
Ester Schwimmer, 5 months, female	August 2002	Black	Bear grabs and kills 5 month old infant from stroller on the porch of home in Fallsburg, New York.
Timothy Hilston, 50, male	October 30, 2001	Brown	Bear attacked and killed an elk hunter as he was gutting an elk in Western Montana.
Adelia Maestras Trujillo, 93, female	August 2001	Black	Bear breaks into a house in New Mexico and is confronted by the elderly owner who dies during the attack.
Kyle Harry, 18, male	June 3, 2001	Black	Attacked and killed at a rural campsite 25 km. east of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada.
George Tullos, 41, male	July 14, 2000	Brown	His partially consumed body was found at Run Amuk campground in Hyder, Alaska.
Mary-Beth Miller, 24, female	July 2000	Black	Attacked and killed while on a training run in Quebec, Canada.
Glena Ann Bradley, female	May 2000	Black	Killed and partially consumed by a 112-pound (51 kg) female and her 40-pound (18 kg) yearling. The attack occurred near the Goshen Prong/Little River trail junction 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream from Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

1990s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Ned Rasmussen, male	November 1999	Brown	Found dead 2 days after he disappeared on a deer hunting trip on Uganik Island, Alaska.
Ken Cates, 53, male	May 25, 1999	Brown	Killed while hiking on the Funny River Trail near Soldotna, Alaska. Investigators found bear blood at the scene, and determined that Cates fired two shots with his rifle scoring at least one hit. The bear was never found.
George Evanoff, 65, male	October 24, 1998	Brown	Evanoff was hiking on the Bearpaw Ridge, 45 miles northeast of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. He encountered a grizzly feeding on a moose kill about a half-mile from his cabin. He was bitten on the neck, but his body was not mauled or eaten by the bear. It was not killed, which would have been in keeping with George’s wishes.
Craig Dahl, 26, male	May 17, 1998	Brown	Last seen alive hiking in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park. His partially consumed remains were found three days later.
Audelio Luis Cortes, 40, male	February 8, 1998	Brown	Killed by a single head bite while working with a seismic crew in the Swanson River oil field near Kenai, Alaska
Patti McConnell, 37, female	August 17, 1997	Black	Died from injuries while defending herself from attack near Liard River Hotsprings, British Columbia
Raymond Kitchen, 56, male	August 17, 1997	Black	Died from injuries while attempting to rescue McConnell. McConnell's 13 year old son and an unidentified 20 year Calgary Alberta man were also injured in the attack Liard River Hotsprings, British Columbia
Christine Courtney, 32, female	July 5,1996	Brown	Killed while hiking in Kluane National Park, Yukon. Her husband was also attacked but survived.
Sevend "Sven" Satre, 53, male	June 1996	Black	Killed while checking fencelines at his rural ranch in British Columbia
Shane Fumerton, Bill Caspell	October 9, 1995	Brown	Killed by bears claiming shot elk near Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia
Marcie Trent, 77, female; and her son, Larry Waldron, 45	July 1, 1995	Brown	Killed by a bear defending a moose carcass on the McHugh Creek Trail near Anchorage, Alaska.
Colin McClelland, 24, male	August 10, 1993	Black	Killed as a result of a crushed skull after a 240-pound (110 kg) male Black bear tore open the door to his trailer and attacked at WAGH Mountain, Colorado. The bear was later killed by game wardens.
John Petranyi, male	October 3, 1992	Brown	Attacked and killed by a female with 2 cubs on the Loop Trail, Upper McDonald Valley, Glacier National Park. The attack occurred less than 200 yards (180 m) from the campground area where Julie Helgeson was dragged from her sleeping bag and killed in August 1967.
Darcy Staver, female	July 8, 1992	Black	Attacked and killed on the roof of their cabin near Glennallen, Alaska. The bear entered their cabin and Staver and her husband fled to the roof. While Staver's husband went for help, the bear killed her.
Sebastien Lauzier, male	June 14, 1992	Black	Attacked and killed on field assignment near Cochrane, Ontario.
Raymond Jakubauskas, 32, and Carola Frehe, 48	October 11, 1991	Black	Bates Island, Opeongo Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
James Waddell, 12, male	May 26, 1991	Black	Dragged from a tent during the night and killed. Marten River Campground, Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada

1980s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Gary Goeden, male	found September 1, 1987; missing since July 28, 1987	Brown	His partially consumed remains were found at Natahki Lake, Many Glacier Valley, Glacier National Park.
Charles Gibbs, 40, male	April 25, 1987	Brown	He was last seen alive following and photographing a female with cubs at Elk Mountain in Glacier National Park. Investigators recovered film of the female approaching in attack mode at 50 yards (46 m).
William Tesinsky, photographer	October 1986	Brown	Approached an adult female too closely in the Otter Creek area of Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park.
Brigitta Fredenhagen	July 1984	Brown	Dragged from a tent during the night and killed at a backcountry campsite at the southern end of White Lake in Yellowstone National Park.
Roger May	June 1983	Brown	Dragged from a tent during the night and killed at the Rainbow Point campground in the Gallatin National Forest just Northwest of Yellowstone National Park.
Laurence Gordon, male	September 30, 1980	Brown	Attacked and killed at the Elizabeth Lake campsite in the Belly River valley, Glacier National Park.
Daniel Gibbs, male; Laura Gibbs, female	August 17, 1980	Black	Killed near Zama, Alberta, Canada
Jane Ammerman, female; Kim Eberly, male	July 24, 1980	Brown	Attacked and killed during the night at their campsite at Divide Creek in the St. Mary valley, Glacier National Park.
12 year old boy	July 18, 1980	Black	Killed at Leo Creek, British Columbia, Canada while fishing with two friends

1970s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Unknown, male	June 19, 1978	Black	Porcupine Mountains State Park, Michigan
George Halfkenny, Mark Halfkenny, Billy Rhindress	May 13, 1978	Black	All three boys were stalked and killed while fishing near Radiant Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Mary Pat Mahoney, 22, female	September 23, 1976	Brown	She was dragged from a tent and killed at Many Glacier campground in Glacier National Park.
Alan Precup, male	August, 1976	Brown	He disappeared while backpacking in the Alaskan wilderness. Days later, searchers found his campsite with his bare skeleton, one intact hand, and both feet, still booted.
Harry Walker	June 1972	Brown	Killed by a bear that was feeding on food that was left out at his campsite near Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park.
John Richardson, 31, male	1971	Black	Killed while camping at West side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

1960s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Male	October 1, 1968	Black	Killed near Atikokan, Ontario, Canada.
Julie Helgeson, 19, female	August 13, 1967	Brown	Killed at Granite Park campsite in Glacier National Park by a female bear. Attack occurred during the night; bear dragged the victim off while still in her sleeping bag. Attack site was less than 200 yards (180 m) from where John Petranyi was attacked and killed on the loop trail in 1992. Helgeson's companion, Roy Ducat, was severely mauled during the attack.
Michelle Koons, 19, female	August 13, 1967	Brown	Killed at Trout Lake campsite in Glacier National Park by a female bear. Although Helgeson and Koons were the same age and killed on the same night, these were separate attacks by different bears approximately 10 miles (16 km) apart.

1940s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Gil Haggerty	August 1942	Black	Killed at Old Faithful campground in Yellowstone National Park.

1920s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Joseph B. "Frenchy" Duret, 60	June 12, 1922	Brown	Infamous trapper, prospector, guide and cattleman trapped and then was attacked and partially devoured by a huge grizzly. Frenchy crawled 1.5-mile (2.4 km) back towards his ranch and died in Frenchy Meadow on Slough Creek in the Absaroka Wilderness, Wyoming

1910s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Frank Welch, 61	September 8, 1916	Brown	Killed at a camp near Sylvan Pass, Yellowstone. A bear was later killed in this area and it was "Old Two Toes".
Charles Brown III, 18, male	1916	Brown	Killed at a roadside camp in Yellowstone National Park
John Graham, 63	May 4, 1912	Brown	Killed on Crevice Mountain, MT by a bear that escaped from his trap. The bear lost 3 toes and became known as "Old Two Toes"

1880s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Franklin Devereaux, 52, male	4 Sept 1883	Brown	Killed in Cheboygan County, Michigan; victim was a hunter and trapper. Both bear and victim were found dead — the bear of a gunshot wound and the hunter from a blow to his head from the bear.

1870s

Name, age, gender	Date	Species	Location, Comments
William Waddell, male	Oct 1875	Brown	Lumber mill owner killed near Waddell Creek in Santa Cruz County, California

General References

• "Fatal Black Bear Attacks". Southeastern Outdoors. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
• "Fatal Brown Bear Attacks". Southeastern Outdoors. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
• "Grizzly Bear Related Fatalities" (PDF). Glacier National Park Press Kit. National Park Service. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
• Kerry A. Gunther. "Bear Caused Human Injuries and Deaths in Yellowstone National Park". Bearman's Yellowstone Outdoor Adventures. Retrieved 2006-07-14.

See also

• Sankebetsu brown bear incident
• Hugh Glass-who survived a 1823 bear attack
• List of fatal cougar attacks in North America by decade