California woman killed in first documented fatal black bear assault in state history
Authorities believed a bear killed Patrice Miller, 71, when she was discovered dead in the little mountain town of Downieville; nevertheless, an examination proved the bear was the cause of her death.
Wildlife officials said this week that a 71-year-old woman who was found dead in her small mountain village in the Sierra Nevada had been the victim of the state's first-ever recorded fatal black bear assault.
near November, Patrice Miller was discovered dead near Downieville. The Sierra County Sheriff's Office stated that they thought a bear had broken into her home after she passed away. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated that an autopsy had recently verified that the bear was the cause of her death.
The police released a statement saying, "This is the first known, documented fatal attack by a black bear in California history."
After sheriff's deputies conducted a welfare check on Nov. 8, Miller was discovered in Downieville, which has a population of around 290 and is located about 50 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe.
"The coroner’s report confirmed that, ultimately, the bear caused the woman’s death," the state wildlife department stated on Thursday.
Miller was attacked by the bear, according to the wildlife agency. It stated that after the animal was dead and caught, DNA testing proved it was the one that had mauled the victim.
According to the state wildlife agency, there are around 35,000 black bears in California, up from 10,000 to 15,000 in 1982. A state conservation strategy is in place for these bears.
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