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Arizona woman succumbs to injuries in first elk attack fatality in state's history

The woman was found in her backyard, with injuries suggesting she had been trampled by an elk

KINGMAN, ARIZONA: In a distressing event that has left the state of Arizona in shock, a woman has tragically died after sustaining severe injuries from an encounter with an elk in the vicinity of Kingman. 

The woman, who remains unidentified, was discovered by her husband in the backyard of their residence in Pine Lake, a locality situated 15 miles southeast of Kingman, on the afternoon of October 26. Her injuries were indicative of an elk trampling incident, according to ABC 15.

Arizona woman’s fatal elk encounter 

The husband discovered his wife lying on the ground in their backyard upon returning to their property. Her injuries reportedly suggested she had been trampled by an elk. A bucket of spilled corn was also found nearby.

There were no witnesses to the incident. The injured woman was initially taken to the Kingman Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.

On November 3, the Kingman Police Department informed the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) that the woman had died at the hospital.

The Clark County Medical Examiner's Office in Nevada ruled the cause of death as accidental.

Elk attacks in Arizona

Upon being notified about the incident the next day, workers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) promptly alerted residents in the vicinity, advising them not to approach or feed elk. Upon their arrival at the site of the incident, they noticed multiple elk tracks in the yard.

This tragic event is believed to be the first fatal elk attack in Arizona, as per the AZGFD. Over the past five years, there have been five reported elk attacks in the state, each resulting in varying degrees of injury.

Is feeding wildlife a risk to life?

In a statement, the AZGFD issued a warning about the dangers of feeding wildlife. "The public is urged to help keep wildlife wild. Wildlife that are fed by people, or that get food sources from items such as unsecured garbage or pet food, lose their natural fear of humans and become dependent on unnatural food sources," the statement read.

"Feeding puts at risk the person doing the feeding, their neighbors, and the wildlife itself. Please do not feed wildlife," it added.