In an exceptionally rare incident for Arkansas, a 72-year-old man was critically injured when he was attacked by a juvenile black bear weighing approximately 70 pounds. The victim, identified as Vernon Patton, was working with his tractor on a gravel road near Mulberry Mountain when the bear unexpectedly attacked.
Patton’s son, who witnessed the attack, intervened by throwing rocks, prompting the bear to flee. Patton sustained multiple severe injuries, including deep cuts and puncture wounds to his head and arms. He was airlifted to a medical center in Fayetteville for surgery before being transferred to a hospital in Little Rock, where he remains hospitalized.
This marks the first reported bear attack in Arkansas in over 25 years. Wildlife officials quickly located the bear at the scene and made the difficult decision to euthanize it. The animal will undergo a necropsy to check for diseases such as rabies or distemper that may have triggered its aggressive behavior.
Authorities are urging residents to brush up on bear safety protocols—such as maintaining distance, backing away slowly, appearing larger, and making noise—especially in areas where wildlife and human activities overlap.