Arizona wildlife officials say a bear that killed a man near Prescott last week has tested negative for rabies and had no apparent signs of disease.
According to the Game and Fish Department, the 365-pound adult male black bear was in good condition when it attacked and killed Steven Jackson Friday at his property in Groom Creek where he was building a home.
A neighbor tried to stop the attack and shot the animal multiple times, killing it at the scene.
Officials believe it was an unprovoked predatory attack and remains from the victim were later found in the bear’s stomach.
The only time rabies has been confirmed in a black bear in Arizona was in 1971.
Bear attacks in the state are very rare but the animals can attack, injure and kill when acting aggressively toward humans.