A 15-year-old boy in Arizona was saved by his brother after a black bear attacked him in a bunkhouse last week.
Carol Hawkins, the mother of attack victim Brigham Hawkins, spoke with FOX 10 Phoenix about the traumatic incident. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the attack took place on Thursday.
The incident occurred while the teen was watching television in the family’s bunkhouse in Alpine, Arizona. The rest of the family was in a cabin twenty feet away, according to FOX 10.
“The bear came into the cabin and from behind the couch, which we were rebuilding, hit him and scratched his face,” Carol explained.
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15-year-old Brigham Hawkins survived a terrifying black bear attack last week. (Carol Hawkins via FOX 10 Phoenix/iStock)
Brigham’s 18-year-old brother, Parker, heard the commotion and ran toward the bunkhouse. The mother told FOX 10 that since Brigham has a rare genetic disorder, his siblings are used to taking care of him.
“He started to scream but [Parker] He could barely hear it, so he went to check on it and thought it was a dog. He thought he was a very big dog,” Carol explained.
When Parker arrived, the three-year-old bear suddenly diverted his attention to his older brother.
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The Hawkins family regularly takes camping trips to Alpine, Arizona. (Carol Hawkins via FOX 10 Phoenix)
“When he got there, the bear turned around, saw him and started chasing him,” Carol added.
Brigham’s father helped him escape while Parker distracted the bear. The teen is still receiving medical treatment after suffering cuts to his arms and face, and officials later captured and euthanized the bear.
“No matter what you do, bad things can happen,” the grateful mother said. “I feel blessed that things turned out the way they did. I don’t really feel like it’s luck, it’s a blessing.”
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Although black bears are much less likely to attack humans than brown bears and polar bears, officials warn that such attacks are still possible.
An undated photograph of the Hawkins family children on a camping trip. (Carol Hawkins via FOX 10 Phoenix)
In June 2023, a resident of Tucscon, Arizona, was beaten to death by a black bear while drinking coffee on his property.
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“Black bears are predatory animals and should always be considered unpredictable and dangerous,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department said on Facebook on Friday. “If you’re going outdoors this weekend, be aware of your surroundings and secure your food.”
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