ANCHORAGE, Alaska—A tragic incident unfolded as a 50-year-old hunter, Tad Fujioka of Sitka, was found dead in an apparent brown bear mauling on Baranof Island in southeastern Alaska, according to authorities on Thursday.
Fujioka was reported missing on Tuesday evening after failing to return from a solo hunting expedition on the densely forested island. Search efforts led by state wildlife troopers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Sitka search and rescue teams resulted in the discovery of Fujioka’s body on Wednesday. It was determined that bears had attacked Fujioka and had consumed a deer he had hunted.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter identified three brown bears near the site of the deer kill and alerted search teams on the ground, as stated by troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain in an email to The Associated Press.
Despite extensive efforts by troopers and personnel from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the bears were not located before nightfall. Fujioka’s body was recovered, and his family was informed of the tragic outcome.
