Arkansas authorities have tracked down and killed a black bear believed responsible for the state’s second fatal mauling in just weeks.
Story Highlights
- Missouri camper Max Thomas, 60, was found mauled to death at an Arkansas campground after photographing a bear at his site.
- Second fatal bear attack in Arkansas within weeks, breaking a 133-year streak without deadly incidents.
- The bear population exploded from near extinction to 5,000 animals, creating unprecedented safety concerns.
- Authorities killed a suspected bear, awaiting DNA confirmation, while investigating drag marks and struggle evidence.
Fatal Attack Shocks Ozark National Forest
Max Thomas of Springfield, Missouri, was found dead several yards outside Sam’s Throne campground in Newton County after sending his family photographs of a black bear at his campsite on Tuesday morning.
The 60-year-old camper’s body was discovered Thursday when his son reported losing contact. State medical examiners ruled the death an “animal mauling” after finding evidence of a violent struggle, including drag marks leading from the campground into dense woods.
Sheriff Glenn Wheeler detailed the methodical investigation that connected the bear to Thomas’s death. Trail cameras captured images of a bear matching Thomas’s photographs near the campground on Sunday, providing crucial evidence for tracking efforts.
Local hunters and houndsmen assisted authorities in locating the animal, which was killed on Monday and transported for DNA testing to confirm its involvement in the fatal attack.
Arkansas Bear Population Explosion Creates New Dangers
The attack represents a disturbing escalation in human-wildlife conflict as Arkansas’s black bear population has surged from near-extinction to an estimated 5,000 animals.
Black bears were nearly wiped out by the 1930s, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining before reintroduction efforts in the 1950s and 1960s restored populations throughout the Ouachita and Ozark mountains. This dramatic recovery has created unprecedented challenges for public safety in previously secure recreational areas.
The incident marks Arkansas’s second fatal bear attack in recent weeks, following a September 2025 death in Franklin County. These attacks shatter a 133-year streak without confirmed fatal bear incidents, with the last documented case occurring in 1892.
Don White Jr., a large mammal ecologist at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, acknowledges that while fatal attacks remain “exceedingly rare,” the increasing bear population creates new risks for outdoor enthusiasts.
Arkansas officials shot and killed a male black bear that they believe fatally mauled a 60-year-old Missouri man last week at his campsite in the Ozark National Forest, authorities said Monday. https://t.co/UOHH522pPm
— WAND TV News (@wandtvnews) October 7, 2025
Wilderness Safety Concerns Mount for Outdoor Americans
The tragic death highlights growing safety concerns for Americans seeking refuge in natural areas that once provided secure recreational opportunities. Sam’s Throne campground, located in the rugged terrain of the Ozark National Forest, attracts thousands of campers and outdoor enthusiasts annually.
The area’s dense forests and challenging topography create ideal bear habitat while complicating wildlife management and emergency response efforts for authorities.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesperson Keith Stephens emphasizes the historical rarity of fatal bear encounters while acknowledging the mounting challenges of managing an expanding bear population.
The incident raises critical questions about wilderness safety protocols and the balance between conservation efforts and protecting law-abiding Americans who seek to enjoy their public lands. Authorities continue investigating while outdoor enthusiasts reassess safety measures for camping in bear country.
Sources:
Authorities Shoot and Kill Black Bear Believed to Have Fatally Mauled Man in Arkansas
