Deadly bear attack on woman in 2023 is a first for California according to authorities.
Recently, a 71-year-old woman named Patrice Miller was discovered dead in her Downieville residence following a welfare check. Her body was found with signs of a bear being present in the house. Initial investigations suggested that Miller had passed away naturally, and a bear had entered the house after her death, consuming her remains.
However, a newly released autopsy report by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the bear had, in fact, been responsible for Miller's death.
A grocery store employee had not seen or heard from Miller in a few days, prompting a deputy to conduct a welfare check. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered Miller's corpse in the house. Sheriff Michael Fisher shared that there were indications a bear had been inside the property.
Initially, it was assumed that Miller had died due to natural causes, and the bear had invaded the house after her demise to feast on her remains. The bear was then apprehended and executed.
Later on, the coroner's report exposed that Miller didn't pass away naturally, but rather was killed by the bear. Sheriff Fisher highlighted that before the autopsy, they were unaware of any ongoing bear issues at Miller's residence. Following the removal of her body, the bear frequently returned to the house.
Further investigations revealed that bears had been visiting Miller's house regularly because she would leave food for her cats on the porch and litter was scattered around the property. Her daughter also informed authorities that a specific bear was frequently at the property, and Miller had installed bars on her windows to keep the bear at bay.
"This is a big deal! A bear attacking and even killing a person, this doesn't happen in California," commented Steve Gonzalez from the fish and wildlife department to CNN affiliate KCRA.
Recently, reports came in about another bear invading houses in the community. This bear was also put down.
Sheriff Fisher stated that bears roaming the area are common occurrences. They typically rummage through garbage or break into cars for sustenance, before fleeing upon spotting people. "We deal with bears on a weekly basis during spring, summer, and fall, but these incidents, while bothersome, are rarely a threat to the general public," the sheriff explained.
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the bear was responsible for Miller's death, making it a rare incident for California as mentioned by Steve Gonzalez. Despite the frequent bear encounters in the area, Sheriff Fisher assured that such incidents are usually not a threat to the general public.
