Arkansas Man Mauled by 70-Pound Bear in Rare Attack, Airlifted to Hospital

A black bear in the wild

A 72-year-old Arkansas man is recovering after being mauled by a 70-pound black bear in a rare attack that left him with severe injuries.

Vernon Patton was working outside in the Mulberry Mountain area of Franklin County when the bear attacked, clawing and biting his face, arms, and upper body, officials said. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesperson Keith Stephens described the incident as “a pretty severe attack.”

Patton was airlifted to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, where he underwent emergency surgery before being transferred to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He was initially listed in critical condition but has since been stabilized, though he remains hospitalized.

A black bear foraging in Yellowstone National Park

The violent encounter is considered extraordinary, as Arkansas has not had a confirmed bear attack on a human in at least 25 years. Stephens noted that the last known case may have occurred as far back as the 19th century.

During the attack, Patton’s son arrived and intervened by throwing rocks at the bear. The animal reportedly charged at him before fleeing into the woods. Wildlife officials later tracked down and euthanized the bear.

The Mulberry River in Arkansas

“If we have an animal that attacked a human being, you’ve got to put it down,” Stephens said. “You can’t have that happening again.”

The incident has raised awareness of bear encounters in the Ozark region, where black bears are present but rarely aggressive toward people.