Teenager recovering after bear attack in eastern Arizona cabin, mother says

ALPINE, AZ (AZFamily) — A 15-year-old boy is recovering after being attacked by a black bear at a cabin in eastern Arizona Thursday night.

Brigham Hawkins was at his family cabin near Blue River Road in Alpine, where his mother Carol said the family has been going for years.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think (a bear) would come into the house,” Carol said.

Carol says Brigham was watching YouTube with the door open when a bear came through the open door and attacked him from behind.

“He didn’t realise it because it came from behind, grabbed him and hit him twice in the face. It hit him in the nose and cheek and then it went on and caught his forehead and the top of his head,” Carol said.

Brigham cannot move quickly because he suffers from a rare neurological disorder. After initially leaving the cabin, the bear came back and started attacking Brigham again, including in his arm.

His brother Parker heard him screaming and helped chase away the bear and Brigham’s father.

“Thanks to the quick response of his brother and family, they were able to distract the bear from what could have easily become a real tragedy in a matter of seconds,” said Shawn Wagner, law enforcement chief for the AZ Game and Fish Department.

Wagner says police killed the three-year-old black bear about 120 feet from the cabin and that the bear’s body was taken to the state health lab for examination and rabies testing. This is the 16th bear attack on humans in Arizona since 1990. Of those attacks, two were fatal.

“Having a seizure is extremely rare,” Wagner said.

Brigham was taken to a local hospital with injuries to his face and arm and received a precautionary rabies vaccination, but is expected to recover.

“He has thanked everyone who has helped him and he is coping well. And he will be fine,” Carol said.

Arizona Game and Fish urges people visiting or living in parts of the state where bears live to be aware of their surroundings.

The state agency advises storing food and other “bait” safely and not leaving food in tents or on grills. It also suggests setting up camp away from places where bears might forage for food, such as bodies of water.

Hike in groups, make noise, and avoid scented lotions, deodorants, or perfume. Keep pets on a leash.

If you encounter a bear, according to AZGFD, do not run away. Instead, back away slowly while maintaining eye contact with the bear.

Make yourself appear larger by showing off your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket higher than your head. Officials advise throwing objects, yelling at the bear and fighting back if it is attacked.

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