A bear that attacked a Pennsylvania man earlier this week had rabies, wildlife officials confirmed Thursday.
Andrew Neirer told CBS affiliate WYOU that he spotted the adult male black bear sitting in a wooded area in the Carbon County town of Jim Thorpe. He was walking along a trail to go to the store, and tried to avoid the animal, but it approached him.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission said that the bear began to bite and scratch Neirer. Those are “abnormal behaviors” for the species, the commission said.
A neighbor saw the incident, which was captured on video, and shot the bear, WYOU reported. Neirer told the station that he felt OK and said it “could’ve been a lot worse.”
“I feel bad for the bear, because they really do not bother you that much,” Neirer told the station. “Just, anything happens.”
The Pennsylvania Game Commission was called to the scene and officials took the bear’s remains to be tested. On Thursday, the commission confirmed the animal had rabies but said that Neirer is expected to make a full recovery and has “received appropriate medical treatment.”
The commission emphasized that rabies among bears is typically rare, and cases are usually isolated. Male bears hibernate for the winter alone, the commission said, making it unlikely that other animals were exposed to the illness. Animals behaving strangely should be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Rabies is a deadly viral infection that attacks the nervous system in humans and animals, causing brain and spinal cord inflammation. It is typically spread to humans through direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal through scratching or biting.
Treatment has proven to be nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease if someone is exposed, though it must start before symptoms appear.
Last year, at least three people in North America died after thet were bitten or scratched by bats with rabies.
