In a shocking incident this week, a bear in Pennsylvania attacked a man and was later found to have rabies, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission shared details on Facebook, explaining that the bear “aggressively approached” a man, Andrew Neirer, in Jim Thorpe, a town in Carbon County located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. The bear began to bite and scratch him, which officials said is unusual behavior for bears.
Thankfully, Andrew Neirer survived the attack and is expected to fully recover. Surveillance footage obtained by NBC affiliate WBRE of Wilkes-Barre shows the attack happening near his home.
A nearby homeowner, who witnessed the attack, shot and killed the bear, and its body was sent for testing. On January 23, 2025, the results revealed that the bear tested positive for rabies.
The Game Commission assured the public that Neirer had received the necessary medical care and is recovering well. They also explained that although rabies in bears is rare, it can affect all mammals. In this particular case, male bears usually live alone during hibernation, which means the risk of other bears being exposed is low.
What Happened During the Attack:
Neirer was walking along a stone trail close to his home when he noticed the bear blocking his path. He tried to walk away, but the bear followed and attacked him. In an interview with WBRE, Neirer said he didn’t blame the bear and believed it was probably searching for food due to the unpredictable weather.
“They’re hungry. They’re starving. They’re supposed to be in hibernation. This weather is weird lately,” Neirer explained. “Hot, cold, warm, cold. I feel bad for the bear, ’cause they don’t usually bother you much. Just, anything happens.”
Neirer was grateful for the homeowner who shot the bear, as the situation could have been much worse.
Rise in Bear Encounters in Pennsylvania:
While bear attacks are rare, bear-related issues have been on the rise in recent years, especially in northeastern Pennsylvania, where the bear population has surged. In the 1970s, the state had only about 4,000 bears. Now, that number has grown to an estimated 18,000.
The number of complaints about bears in the northeast region increased from 600 in the late 1990s to 1,100 by 2002.
The Game Commission is urging people to report any animals showing unusual behavior. Anyone who sees an animal acting strangely is advised to contact them at 1-833-PGC-WILD.
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