California: Woman found dead in mountains was victim of first fatal bear attack in state | US News

Patrice Miller, 71, was originally thought to have died before the bear arrived on her property in a small mountain town in the Sierra Nevada, but a recent autopsy confirmed she was bitten to death.

A woman found dead in her home in a remote mountain region was the victim of the first fatal black bear attack in California, according to conservation authorities.

Patrice Miller’s body was discovered by deputies conducting a welfare check after she had not been seen for days.

When they arrived at the Sierra Nevada property, they found a broken door and bear scat on the porch.

“It appeared the bear had probably been there for several days, feeding on the remains,” Sheriff Mike Fisher told local media.

An autopsy and DNA tests recently confirmed that the bear had killed the 71-year-old.

“This incident is the first known and documented fatal attack by a black bear in California history,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement.

It was originally believed that Mrs. Miller, who lived in the small town of Downieville, had died before the bear’s arrival and that the animal had been lured to the property by her scent.

Concerned neighbors reported that the bear kept returning to the house and was later captured and euthanized.

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Steve Gonzalez, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: “This is a big deal. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in California.”

“Usually a bear will stay away from you, a bear that is not used to human behavior.”

Bears breaking into homes or garbage cans in search of food have become a problem in the state, with some raiding refrigerators or taking a dip in backyard pools and hot tubs.