In Arizona, a dramatic encounter unfolded on Thursday when a black bear entered a cabin and attacked a 15-year-old boy, Brigham Hawkins, who was watching TV.
Brigham, who suffers from a rare neurological disorder, was unwinding after a day of fishing in Alpine when the bear unexpectedly entered through the open front door.
The bear struck Brigham multiple times, prompting a swift response from his family, who were staying in a nearby cabin.
Hearing Brigham’s screams, his relatives rushed to his aid, bravely confronting the bear to drive it away.
Brigham’s mother, Carol Hawkins, described the terrifying moment when the bear swiped at her son’s face and head, causing injuries.
“Parker ran up on the porch and went into the other cabin to get away from the bear,” she recalled. “And the bear just paced back and forth on our porch.”
Brigham’s older brother, Parker, initially mistook the bear for a large dog but quickly realized the danger when it pursued him onto the porch of the cabin.
Seeking safety, Parker took shelter in the neighboring cabin while the bear lingered outside.
Meanwhile, Brigham’s father rushed to assist his son and called emergency services for help.
Authorities swiftly responded, locating the bear approximately 120 feet from the cabin and euthanizing it to prevent further harm.
“It was thanks to the quick reaction by his brother and his family that they were able to distract the bear from what very easily in a matter of seconds could have turned into a real tragedy there,” state Game and Fish Department Law Enforcement Supervisor Shawn Wagner
Carol Hawkins expressed her family’s mixed emotions about the bear’s fate, acknowledging the necessity of the action taken while lamenting the loss of wildlife. She emphasized that the bear’s behavior was abnormal and posed a significant threat to her son and others.
Despite sustaining injuries to his face and arm, Brigham is expected to recover fully. His family considers themselves fortunate that the outcome wasn’t more severe, crediting quick reactions and divine protection for his safety.
The incident underscores the rarity and seriousness of bear attacks in Arizona, with this being the 16th reported case since 1990, two of which were fatal.
Carol Hawkins stressed the importance of understanding that such behavior is not typical and requires appropriate measures to ensure public safety.
“We’re extremely blessed and feel that somebody was most definitely watching over him because he’s very small and has lots of medical issues and there was nothing he could have done to chase off this bear or fight off this bear,” Hawkins told the station. “He just, he was protected.”
