Rare Black Bear Attack in Arkansas Sends Elderly Man to Hospital

An Arkansas man in his 70s from Franklin County in the Northwest corner of the state was attacked by a black bear while he was working on his tractor on a gravel road in the Mulberry Mountain region on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

Elderly Man Airlifted to Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas

The man was airlifted to the Washington Medical Center in Fayetteville for treatment. His condition hasn't been released to the general public as of this morning. When his son came to check on him, he saw his father being aggressively attacked by the bear.

Update 9/5-2025 Man Remains in the Hospital in Stable Condition

Rare Black Bear Attack in Arkansas in Decades

According to 40/29 News and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, it's believed the attack occurred near the Mullbery Mountain Lodge Park. According to the AGFC, this is a rare case because there hasn't been a reported black bear attack in Arkansas in more than 25 years.

When the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wardens arrived at the scene, the bear was put down, which they described as a smaller black bear weighing around 70 pounds. The bear was taken by an AGFC carnivore biologist, who will perform a necropsy to determine the cause of the bear's aggression.

READ MORE: 2025 Great Arkansas Cleanup Returns This Fall

What To Do and Not Do If You Encounter a Bear

If you ever encounter a black bear. First, try to stay calm and slowly back away. Most people's first reaction is to run, but that's the last thing you want to do. If the bear approaches, do not climb a tree or play dead; always try to make yourself look larger by raising your hands above your head. If the bear charges, use bear spray if you have it. Give the bear plenty of space to escape and always stand your ground. If attacked, fight back aggressively, doing all you can to survive by kicking or punching the bear.