Necropsy Completed on Katmai Bears

National Park Service rangers along with officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Department of Fish and Game returned to the coast of Katmai National Park and Preserve Wednesday afternoon to perform a field necropsy on two bears. The bears had been killed in self defense when NPS rangers and state troopers were recovering the remains of Timothy Treadwell and Amie Hugenard on Monday. Treadwell and Huguenard were mauled sometime between Sunday, October 5, and Monday afternoon.

The necropsy of the larger boar revealed that its stomach did contain human remains and clothing. Rangers believe the bear was feeding on human remains when an air taxi pilot arrived at the campsite on Monday afternoon. The bear was estimated to be about 28 years old and slightly underweight for this time of year, although it is estimated he weight more than 1,000 pounds. The bear had been captured in May 1990 as part of a large bear study following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. That spring, the bear weighed about 850 pounds and was in average condition.

The bear was shot Monday as it came within about 10 feet of rangers and troopers. Although this bear did have human remains in its stomach it can not be proved conclusively that this was the bear that killed the campers.

The second, smaller bear was found partially buried in a mound and consumed by another bear. While the remains were inconclusive, biologists said its size and behavior lead them to believe the bear was a young male. There was not enough physical evidence to complete a full necropsy, although human remains were not found in this bear. This bear was shot after it ignored warning yells and a warning shot, and continued to approach rangers and troopers who were loading a plane on Monday afternoon.

A closure to visitation remains in effect in the area surrounding the campsite. The closure will be lifted in early December when most bears in the area begin to hibernate.

October 9, 2003   12:15 p.m.