71-Year-Old Woman Dies in California’s First Documented Fatal Black Bear Attack

71-Year-Old Woman dies California’s First Documented Fatal Black Bear Attack

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Jun 07, 06:50 am

In 2023, a 71-year-old woman was found dead inside her home and was believed she was mauled to death by a black bear in a Sierra Nevada community, marking what is deemed to be California's first fatal black bear attack ever, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed this week.

71-Year-Old Woman Was Fatally Mauled by a Black Bear

Patrice Miller was discovered dead in her Downieville home in November by a Sierra County sheriff's deputy, who had been called to check on her after she had not been seen for several days.

"Upon arriving, [they] immediately saw evidence of a bear intrusion into the house," County Sheriff Mike Fisher told the outlet. "The door was broken, and there was bear scat on the porch."

The State Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the incident this weekend. At first, authorities believed that Miller had died of natural causes before the bear came into her home and mauled her. A pathologist discovered earlier this year that the animal had fatally attacked her.

The bear responsible for the attack in Downieville, a small town near the Tahoe National Forest, was later trapped and put down, according to the department. DNA testing confirmed it was the same bear that had killed Miller.

The region has long struggled with bears rummaging near homes and yards for food. Around the nearby Lake Tahoe, a popular destination for winter skiing and summer recreation, there has been a recent increase in bear break-ins.

Patrice Miller Struck a Bear to Keep It Out of Her House

In Downieville, Miller's daughter mentioned that bears frequently tried to enter "through broken windows," and that her mother had once physically hit one to prevent it from entering her home. She had named one regular visiting bear "Big Bastard."

Sheriff Fisher noted that Miller's home had many "bear attractants" and that she would feed her cats on the front porch.

The sheriff's office has received numerous reports from concerned homeowners and business owners about bears trespassing into homes and cars, inflicting damage, and endangering nearby residents since May.

The bear's behavior was deemed dangerous and the local community faced consequences, leading to the deputies being forced to put it down for public safety.

The sheriff's office advises Downieville residents to take precautions to avoid encounters with bears and other wildlife, including closing doors and windows, locking vehicles, and removing any outside food sources such as garbage.

California is home to approximately 35,000 black bears, a significant increase from 10,000 to 15,000 in 1982, according to the state wildlife department, which also oversees a state conservation plan for them.

Adult male black bears can weigh around 400 pounds, while females typically weigh between 100 to 300 pounds. They are the only type of bear in California, though their fur can vary in color from black to cinnamon brown.