First Fatal Polar Bear Attack Recorded in the US After 30 Years; How Deadly Are These Furry Mammals?

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a powerful symbol of the strength and endurance of the Arctic being it is the top predator in the region. In the US, Alaska is home to two polar bear populations.

However, as sea ice continues to melt, it also decreases their habitat and increases their chances of interaction with humans. As per A-Z Animals, polar bears and grizzly bears are aggressive animals that are known to attack and kill humans. Polar bears have been seen hunting humans as prey, especially as their food sources become scarce, like what happened in Alaska last month.

Polar Bear Attacks Woman and Her 1-Year-Old Child

Polar bears are powerful apex predators and represent a significant risk to human life and property. Attacks on persons and property have increased in recent years throughout the polar bear's habitat. Within the polar bear range, more than 20 direct assaults on humans have been documented.

Last month, a polar bear attacked a lady and her 1-year-old kid in Alaska. It was the first deadly polar bear attack in the United States in more than 30 years, AP News reported. A new analysis gives additional light on what may have precipitated the fatal occurrence.
Summer Myomick, 24, and her baby son, Clyde Ongtowasruk, were mauled to death on January 17 in the westernmost city of North America called Wales. A polar bear attacked the couple as they were leaving a school in the middle of the street due to a thick snowfall at the time, which meant Myomick could not notice the bear coming until it was too late.

Staff attempted to stop the bear by beating it with shovels, but the bear turned on them and forced them to withdraw back into the school, which was packed with students at the time. The school was placed on lockdown until a villager arrived with a pistol and shot the polar bear to death.

Possible Cause of the Rare Polar Bear Attack

Wildlife scientist Lindsey Mangipane told Live Science via email that polar bear attacks on humans are incredibly rare. The last attack recorded in the US was in 1003, while the last death was in 1990 near Point Lay, Alaska.

So why did the polar bear attack the mother and son? Veterinarian Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Division of Wildlife Conservation conducted tests on tissue samples from the dead polar bear to know why it behaved so aggressively.

Before the analysis, there was speculation that the bear may have been infected with brain-altering diseases that impacted its behavior. But since there is not enough data on infected bears, experts are unsure of their symptoms on them.

Instead, the test results DWC shared in a statement showed that the sex and physical condition of the bear were likely to be the key factors that influenced the polar bear attack. According to DWC, the bear in Wales attack was an adult male that is in poor body condition and was likely elderly.

DWC representatives wrote in the statement that there is no definitive explanation why the polar was in poor condition, although the worsening climate change that affected their habitat is perhaps one of the reasons. For now, uncertain what provoked the violent behavior of the polar bear.

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