Bear Lives Matter

DNA from a black bear is linked to a fatal July 29 bear mauling near Hope, confirming that both a brown and black bear visited the scene of the attack, Alaska wildlife officials said Tuesday.

Daniel Schilling, 46, was killed on July 29 about a mile behind his property at Mile 8 of the Hope Highway.

About a week after the fatal mauling wildlife officials killed four bears in the area as they investigated the cause of the attack. The matching DNA announced Monday came from one of the female black bears killed, Fish and Game said. DNA from the other three bears killed, two black bears and a brown bear, did not match any samples collected at the scene.

Biologists still believe a lone brown bear attacked and killed Schilling.