ALPINE, Ariz. — Brigham Hawkins, 15, was watching TV on Thursday in Alpine, Arizona, after a long day with his family, when the unthinkable happened.
"A bear just walked through the front door, came behind him and before he even realized what was happening, (the bear) swiped his face," Carol Hawkins, Brigham's mom, told 12News.
A black bear, which was later identified by Arizona Game and Fish Department to be about three years old, walked in the front door of the cabin Brigham was at and swiped at the back of his head, before leaving and coming back, this time swiping at the boy's arm.
Hawkins said her other son, Parker, heard Brigham scream and tried to help. From his vantage point, Parker thought the bear was a dog, and did not realize the bear was, in fact, a bear until the animal began chasing him.
"Parker ran up on the porch and went into the other cabin to get away from the bear," Carol Hawkins said. "And the bear just paced back and forth on our porch."
Brigham was alone in the other cabin and Carol Hawkins said her husband, Brigham's dad Shane, decided to make a break for the other cabin. As he ran to Brigham, the bear chased Shane as well, but he was able to get inside the other cabin and call 911.
AZGFD was dispatched to the situation and said the bear was quickly located and was killed. Carol Hawkins said her and her family were saddened that the bear had to be put down, but they understand it was a necessity.
"People that... don't understand wildlife or Arizona think that you know, this is just normal bear behavior, and we should be understanding," Carol Hawkins said. "I just wish people could understand... this is not what you would expect, this is not normal. For whatever reason, there was something wrong with this bear, something was off."
The carcass will be examined and tested for disease by the department’s wildlife health specialists, AZGFD said. Brigham was treated at the hospital and started on rabies vaccines as a preventative measure, and Carol Hawkins said he is doing well.
"For the most part he's been very happy and thankful... for everybody," Carol Hawkins said. "He's struggled with a lot in his life, and he has always done it with gratitude, and a smile on his face, and he's doing the exact same thing with this."
This incident marks the 16th bear attack on people in the state since 1990. There have been two fatal bear attacks in Arizona since the department database began tracking. The most recent death occurred last year in Prescott.
"We're extremely blessed and feel that somebody was most definitely watching over him because... he's very small and has lots of medical issues and there was nothing he could have done to chase off this bear or fight off this bear," Carol Hawkins said. "He just... he was protected."
AZGFD reminds visitors and residents of Arizona to be "bear aware" with these tips:
When camping
- Always be aware of your surroundings.
- Keep food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in a tent.
- Don't burn left-over food or trash on the grill.
- Set up a campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.
When hiking
- Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant or perfumes.
- Make noise or hike in groups.
- Hiking with a pet? Keep it on a leash at all times.
In case of a bear encounter
- Do not run.
- Back away slowly while maintaining eye contact with the bear.
- Make yourself look bigger than you are by flaunting your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket up higher than your head.
- Throw items and yell at the bear.
- If attacked, fight back.
For questions, or to obtain a brochure on living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/.
If you see bears displaying unacceptable behavior, hanging around in human-occupied areas, or showing no fear of humans, you must report sightings to AZGFD at 623-236-7201. In an emergency, call 911.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.