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Fatal Eurasian Brown Bear Attacks—Two Swedish Fatalities in Modern Times
Author(s) -
Gustafsson Torfinn,
Eriksson Anders
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12870
Subject(s) - autopsy , evisceration (ophthalmology) , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , population , surgery , medical emergency , pathology , environmental health , alternative medicine
Fatal bear attacks on humans are uncommon with only one reported case in S weden since 1902. The bear population is, however, growing and the frequency of confrontations is likely to increase. Case I ‐A 40‐year‐old hunter and his dog were found dead near a bear's den. Autopsy showed that a large portion of the face, facial skeleton, and anterior portion of the brain was missing. Autopsy of the bear showed two nonfatal gunshot wounds. Case II ‐A 61‐year‐old man and his dog were found dead outside a hunting lodge. Autopsy revealed numerous wounds, including partial evisceration of the intestines. The victim's blood ethanol concentration was 0.27%. These cases confirm the presence of risk factors identified by the S candinavian B rown B ear R esearch P roject, that is, provocation by a dog, encountering an injured bear, and appearing close to its den. An additional possible factor in case II was ethanol intoxication.