Bear attacks and injures 15-year-old boy in Arizona

ALPINE, Arizona – Fifteen-year-old Brigham Hawkins was watching television Thursday after a long day with his family in Alpine, Arizona, when the unthinkable happened.

“A bear just came through the front door, followed him, and before he even realized what was happening, the bear ripped his face off,” Carol Hawkins, Brigham’s mother, told 12News.

A black bear, later identified by the Arizona Game and Fish Department as being about three years old, came through the front door of the cabin where Brigham was staying and struck him on the back of the head. Then it walked away again, this time striking the boy on the arm.

Hawkins said her other son, Parker, heard Brigham’s scream and tried to help. From his observation post, Parker thought the bear was a dog and only realized it was actually a bear when the animal began chasing him.

“Parker ran onto the porch and went into the other cabin to get away from the bear,” Carol Hawkins said. “And the bear was just pacing up and down our porch.”

Brigham was alone in the other cabin and Carol Hawkins said her husband, Brigham’s father Shane, decided to escape to the other cabin. As he ran to Brigham, the bear chased Shane as well, but he managed to get into the other cabin and call 911.

AZGFD was dispatched to the scene and said the bear was quickly found and killed. Carol Hawkins said she and her family are sad that the bear had to be killed, but they understand it was a necessity.

“People who don’t understand wildlife or Arizona think this is normal bear behavior and we should be understanding,” Carol Hawkins said. “I just wish people could understand that this is not what you would expect, this is not normal. For some reason, something was wrong with this bear, something was wrong.”

The carcass will be examined by the department’s wildlife health specialists and tested for disease, AZGFD said. Brigham was treated at the hospital and received rabies vaccinations as a preventative measure. Carol Hawkins said he is doing well.

“Most of the time he was very happy and thankful … for everyone,” Carol Hawkins said. “He’s dealt with a lot in his life, and he’s always done it with gratitude and a smile on his face, and that’s exactly what he’s doing here.”

This incident is the 16th bear attack on humans in the state since 1990. There have been two fatal bear attacks in Arizona since the agency’s database began, with the most recent fatality occurring in Prescott last year.

“We’re incredibly lucky and feel like someone was definitely looking out for him because… he’s very small and has a lot of health issues and there was nothing he could have done to scare the bear away or fight it off,” Carol Hawkins said. “He was just… protected.”

AZGFD reminds visitors and residents of Arizona to “watch for bears” with these tips:

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep food and bait safe and out of bear reach. Do not store food in a tent.
• Do not allow leftover food or waste to burn on the grill.
• Set up camp away from places where bears might forage for food, such as streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.

• Do not use scented lotions, deodorants or perfumes.
• Make noise or walk in groups.
• Hiking with a pet? Always keep your pet on a leash.

In case of a bear encounter

• Do not run.
• Back away slowly, maintaining eye contact with the bear.
• Make yourself appear taller than you are by showing off your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket higher than your head.
• Throw objects and scream at the bear.
• If you are attacked, defend yourself.

If you have any questions or would like to receive a brochure about living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/.

If you see bears exhibiting unacceptable behavior, staying in areas occupied by humans, or showing no fear of humans, you must report the sighting to AZGFD at 623-236-7201. In an emergency, call 911.

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