Deer Hunter Killed in Apparent Bear Mauling in Alaska, Officials Say

Published: 11/2/2024, 12:49:40 AM EDT

Deer Hunter Killed in Apparent Bear Mauling in Alaska, Officials Say — A bear in a file photo. (F. Jimenez/National Park Service via AP)

The remains of a 50-year-old man suspected to have died in an apparent bear mauling were recovered in an Alaskan forest on Oct. 30, according to a dispatch by the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

Around 6:17 p.m. on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers were alerted that Tad Fujioka of Sitka was overdue from a solo deer hunting trip in the Sitka area of Alaska, a 40-minute flight from the capital Juneau, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the United States Coast Guard, and the Sitka Fire Department Search and Rescue Division carried out land-based searches, employing three search teams in the remote wooded area. At around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, search teams recovered Fujioka’s remains, Alaska State Troopers said.

“Investigation revealed he was the likely victim of a fatal bear mauling,” the agency said in the statement, adding that the victim’s family had been notified.

Tim DeSpain, spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers, told AP that a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter located three brown bears in the area of Fujioka's deer kill and alerted crews searching on the ground.

The State Troopers, along with personnel from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, searched for the bears until dark but did not find them, DeSpain said.

The state is home to all three species of North American bears—the brown, black, and polar bear—according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

“Alaska has over 98 percent of the United States population of brown bears, and more than 70 percent of the North American population,” the agency stated. There are an estimated 100,000 black bears and 30,000 brown bears in the state.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has provided a list of safety tips for those hunting in the state. The tips include having a deterrent ready such as a firearm, bow, or bear spray, as well as making yourself appear larger, staying calm if you come across a bear, and avoiding eliciting a chase response by not running away.

The agency said those encountering a bear should watch the animal to see if it is acting defensively or non-defensively, as your demeanor and actions should differ depending on the bear's behavior.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.