Officials: Black bear ate most of body of California man who likely had died of heart attack

A wild black bear ate most of a Northern California man who likely died earlier of a heart attack, officials said Friday.

Humboldt County Deputy Coroner Roy Horton said he believes 65-year-old Marion Williams died outside his trailer in a remote area before the bear came upon him.

Authorities discovered the remains on Monday after friends reported Williams missing for five days.

Officials tried to trap and kill the bear but called off their attempt because it is doubtful the bear is still in the area near Redway, about 75 miles south of Humboldt, California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Andrew Hughan said.

“We’re not going to find the bear,” he said. “The bear was behaving naturally.”

An investigation revealed no signs that the bear attacked and killed Williams. Rather, Horton said that he believes the bear came upon the man’s body and dragged it to a nearby den.

“It looks like he collapsed and died,” he said. “The bear comes along and sees a potential food source.”

There are no reported cases in California of black bears killing people, Hughan said.