Claudia Huber bear mauling: Grizzly was hungry but not ill

Biologists say they dont know for certain why a grizzly bear mauled Claudia Huber last month outside her home on the South Canol Road nearTeslin, Yukon.

The results ofa necropsythat were announced Thursday night at a community meeting in Teslinshow the bear was hungry, but not ill, when it entered Hubers home through a window, and pursued the womanand her husband outside on Oct. 19.

Ramona Maraj,a carnivore biologist with Environment Yukon, saysthe bear was likely over 25 years old. It was thinner than normal and might have approached the cabin looking for food.

He had fat on him, but he had less fat than is normal for this time of year.

Marajsays theres some evidence the bear had been exposed to human food, but no prior incidents involving the animal had been reported.

Shesays they may never know for certain what caused the mauling.

Disease testing showed there was really no health issues.Basically the bear was an older bear, and everything we found was in accordance with it being an older bear.

Huber ran a wilderness tourism companywith her husband, Matthias Liniger.

SandySmarch, a hunter and trapper, and member of theTeslinTlingit Council, says members of the community are still on edge, especially because the attack wasso unusual.

People are freaked out about bears right now, Smarch says. I spoke with some ladies who are afraid to go to their garage.

Conservation officers at Thursday nights meeting tried to remind people that bear attacks are rare.

However, they still recommend carrying bear spray.

They also agreed to one suggestion that officers teach bear safety in local schools.