2 fatal bear attacks in 6 weeks near Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas

tTwo people have been killed by black bears in separate incidents in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains in the past six weeks, raising concern in a region that as of September had not seen a fatal bear attack since 1862.

On September 3, 2025, Vernon Patton, a 72-year-old former National Park Service ranger, was attacked by a one-year-old male black bear approximately 3 miles off the 254-mile Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) in Arkansas. Patton had been spreading gravel on his property when the attack occurred and was airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock with serious injuries. He died from his injuries 11 days later.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission released a statement After a thorough examination, the bear in that incident was stated to be in “poor health” and “malnourished,” which is unusual for the time of year, given the high availability of natural food. Referring to neurological factors, the AGFC stated that the bear had “microscopic abnormalities” in its central nervous system, which could have contributed to its abnormal behavior.

Less than a month later, on October 2, Max Thomas, a 60 years nature lover from Springfield, Missouri, was dragged from their camp at Sam’s Throne, a wilderness area near the OHT, by a larger male black bear. He was found deceased as a result of the attack with extensive injuries. The National Park Service and National Forest Service located and euthanized the aggressive bear and are still awaiting lab results.

In a separate incident on October 4, two backpackers at a backcountry campsite in the OHT were approached by a bear after sunset. They defended themselves by throwing stones, sticks and shouting, and in the end they emerged unharmed.

The hikers later reportedly said the incident had been “blown out of proportion” by the media, according to the Arkansas Times. Still, the story left many nervous and wondering if the three encounters were indicative of an emerging pattern.

How do we get here?

Black bears, the only species present in Arkansas, are rarely aggressive toward humans and fatal attacks are even rarer. Between 1900 and 2009, only 63 people died in black bear attacks, averaging just over 1 death every 2 years. Meanwhile, the last fatal incident with a bear in Arkansas was 133 years ago. in 1892. However, non-fatal encounters are relatively common.

Black bears are widely considered the least dangerous of the North American bear species. They generally avoid humans, unless they are conditioned to connect humans with the presence of food.

Although it is impossible to say definitively what triggered the recent attacks in Arkansas or whether they represent part of a pattern, some have speculated that more bears are becoming habituated to humans as hiking becomes more popular, leading to more negative encounters. He Ozark Highlands Trail Association issued a statement:

“We want to remind all hikers/backpackers spending time on the Ozark Highlands Trail to take the following precautions with Bear Aware:

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