Pennsylvania man attacked after being approached by aggressive and rabid bear: officials

Authorities have confirmed that the bear responsible for attacking a Pennsylvania man had rabies.

A resident of the town of Jim Thorpe was “aggressively approached” by an adult male black bear on Sunday, Jan. 19, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said in a news release. The animal “continued to bite and scratch him, exhibiting unusual behavior for a black bear.”

According to officials, a nearby homeowner who saw what was happening proceeded to shoot and kill the bear, which was later removed from the scene for testing.

In an update on Thursday, January 23, officials said that “the results of the tests showed that the bear was positive for rabies.”

Related: Mother says she felt like ‘rag doll’ during bear attack before barking dog and a haircut saved her

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said the victim — identified by the local CBS affiliate Wow As Andrew Neirer – is “expected to make a full recovery and has received appropriate medical treatment” for his injuries.

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In an interview with Wyou, Neirer said he was walking to the store when the attack occurred and that he tried to walk away. Despite what happened, he still added that he sympathizes with the bear.

“They are hungry. They are starving. They should be in sleep mode. This weather is strange lately. Hot, cold, hot, cold. I’m not drained from it,” he said, adding, “It could have been a lot worse. “

Related: Dad calls son, 12, a ‘hero’ after boy saves him from bear attack: ‘He really held it together’

In their statement, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reiterated that “rabies in bares is rare” and that cases that do appear are usually isolated incidents. “Rabies poses a risk to all mammals,” they wrote, noting that “male bear(s) typically burrow alone,” reducing “the risk of other bears being exposed to rabies.”

The organization went on to note that “anyone who observes wildlife acting abnormally” should report it by calling 1-833-PGC-wild.

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