Woman, 71, mysteriously found dead at home was mauled to death in first ever fatal black bear attack in California

A 71 year old California A woman who was mysteriously found dead at home was mauled to death by a black bear – in the first ever fatal attack of its kind.

Patrice Miller was found dead last November in her home in Downieville, a small town in the Sierra Nevadatwo hours northeast of the capital, Sacramento.

Sierra County sheriff’s deputies were checking on the well-being of a resident who had not been seen in several days when they found a broken door and bear feces on the porch.

Officers forced their way into the house and discovered her dead body inside. They noted that the house had been ransacked, with signs leading them to believe that a bear had entered the property.

“It appeared the bear had probably been there for several days and had been feeding on the remains,” Sheriff Mike Fisher told KCRA.

Patrice Miller was found dead last November in her home in Downieville, a small Sierra Nevada town two hours northeast of the state capital, Sacramento. Miller’s house is pictured

It was initially believed that Miller died before the bear’s arrival and that it may have been attracted to the scent.

Meanwhile, there were many reports from concerned citizens about a bear repeatedly returning to the house. A state depredation permit was issued and a bear on the property was trapped and euthanized, according to Fisher.

An autopsy subsequently revealed that Miller had died “as a result of a bear mauling or a swipe and a bite to the neck.”

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed this was the first report of a fatal black bear attack on a human in the state.

“It’s a big deal,” said department spokesman Steve Gonzalez. “That doesn’t happen in California. Normally a bear will stay away from you, a bear that is not normalized to human behavior.’

Investigators learned from Miller’s daughter that her mother had constant problems with bears trying to enter her home, and that she had physically struck one.

Another bear subsequently became a problem in Downieville and was euthanized after trying to break into a gym, resulting in a significant decrease in bear activity, the sheriff said.

Downieville is located along Highway 49 in the Lost Sierra region of the Tahoe National Forest

Downieville is located in California’s remote Sierra High Country

DNA testing confirmed that the first euthanized bear was responsible for Miller’s murder.

Bears entering homes or garbage cans in search of food have become a problem in California — from Lake Tahoe in the Sierra to the Los Angeles suburbs, where some have been known to raid refrigerators and take dips in swimming pools and hot tubs in the backyard .

After Miller’s body was found, a local ‘Downieville Crittercam’ captured significant evidence of bears in the area the same week.

In a nighttime video titled “Double Trouble,” two bears were caught wandering through a yard at 3 a.m. each day before Miller’s body was found on Nov. 8.

Video from Nov. 11 at 4:30 a.m. caught another bear wandering into the yard from the river and sniffing around looking for food.

The caption reads: ‘Chonky bear comes up from the river, digs in the garden for a while, then takes a different path back to the river. Go to sleep, handsome.”

According to the California Dept. or Fish and Wildlife, black bears are the only wild bears in the state.

Sierra County sheriff’s deputies warned local residents to take extra precautions.

Video from Nov. 11 at 4:30 a.m. caught another bear wandering into the yard from the river and sniffing around looking for food

They said, “Fish and Wildlife officials are working with the sheriff’s office to ensure public safety and understand the bear’s behavior.

‘Residents in the Downieville area are advised to exercise caution and take necessary precautions to avoid potential encounters with any wildlife.

‘It is strongly recommended that ground floor doors and windows be closed, vehicles locked and all outside food sources removed, including rubbish.’

They added, “The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Patrice Miller during this difficult time.

“The loss of a community member is always a tragedy, and our thoughts are with those affected by this unfortunate event.”