Bears test negative for rabies after Arizona attacks
Jun 27, 2012, 3:05 PM | Updated: 3:51 pm
PHOENIX – Three black bears killed after three reported
attacks on people
in northern Arizona have tested negative for rabies.
Arizona officials now are awaiting DNA analysis to see if
any of the bears are
linked to the non-fatal attacks in the Payson area.
State Game and Fish Department officials say the negative
rabies test shows the
bears weren’t behaving aggressively because of rabies.
A 74-year-old female camper was attacked May 31 at the
Ponderosa Campground
east of Payson and a 30-year-old man was attacked June 24
in
the same area.
Another bear attack was reported June 21 in the Thompson
Draw II area about a
mile from the Ponderosa Campground.
Arizona authorities tracked and fatally shot two bears
Sunday night near the
campground. It’s unclear when the third bear was killed.
The man, Peter Baca, has had an account set up. More
information can be found here.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this
report.
