A derelict hunter was found dead after being mauled by a bear in Alaska, authorities said.
Tad Fujioka, 50, of Sitka, Alaska, was reported late Tuesday evening from a deer hunting trip, Alaska State Troopers said in a release Wednesday. State Wildlife Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard launched multiple search teams Wednesday morning to search Fujioka in a remote forest area.
Around 11:30 a.m., Fujioka’s remains were found and “investigation indicated he was likely the victim of a fatal bear mauling,” troopers said.
Officials said his body had been recovered and his next of kin had been notified.
Authorities have not released details about their investigation or what type of bear was involved in the attack. Alaska is home to black bears and polar bears, but brown bears, including grizzly bears, are most common in the state.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, brown bears and grizzly bears are both common names for the same species, Ursus arctos, but the main difference is their geographic location. Brown bears typically live along the state’s southern coast, while grizzly bears can be found in the northern and inner parts of the state.
Sitka is located on Baranof Island in southeastern Alaska, about 90 miles southwest of Juneau.
In August, authorities said a fighter was seriously injured in Alaska after being mauled and shot by a brown bear while trying to fend it off.
