Woman's Death in 2023 Marks First Fatal Black Bear Attack in California History
- A woman's tragic death in a mountain community in 2023 was declared the first documented fatal black bear attack on a human in California.
- Officials confirmed that this incident marks a historic event in California's wildlife history.
- The community mourns the loss and raises awareness about wildlife encounters in the region.
A woman was found dead in Downieville, California. She was the first person known to be killed by a black bear in California. Downieville is a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains, about two hours from Sacramento. The woman, Patrice Miller, was 71 years old. Sheriff Mike Fisher found the woman's remains in her home. It seemed like a bear had been there for a few days, feeding on her. People in the area had seen a bear near the house multiple times. The bear was trapped and put down. The autopsy showed that the woman died from a bear attack. This was the first time a black bear had killed a person in California. Normally, bears avoid humans. The woman's daughter said her mother had problems with bears before. Another bear in the area was also put down after causing trouble. Tests confirmed that the first bear was the one that killed the woman.