Overview

• A 60-year-old Missouri man was found dead near his campsite at Sam's Throne Campground, and the death was officially ruled an animal mauling and an accident.
• After a bear was captured on a cellular camera near the scene on Oct. 5, hunters with hounds treed it, and officials say there is an extremely high probability it is the same animal.
• The bear was taken to Little Rock for a necropsy and DNA sampling intended to confirm a match to the victim.
• Sam's Throne Campground and surrounding areas remain closed with traps and equipment in place, and officials say the closure will continue until lab results indicate the threat is gone.
• Authorities note the suspected attack comes weeks after a separate fatal black-bear encounter in Franklin County, even as Arkansas has an estimated 5,000 black bears and human attacks are considered rare.