PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities say a 400-pound black bear mauled a woman's arm at a Tampa Bay area wildlife sanctuary.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office and ABC Action News in Tampa reports that the bear — named Abner — was in his cage Friday afternoon when Virginia Riggs, 50, woman reached in to pet him. Deputies and rescue workers responded to the Wildlife Haven Animal Sanctuary in Dade City, and Riggs was flown to a Tampa hospital with severe injuries to her right arm.
Officials with the wildlife sanctuary said the facility is generally not open to the public and that Riggs was there on other business.
Three bears are housed at the sanctuary.
"The animals are here from different areas though the state for different reasons," said Officer Baryl Martin of Florida Fish and Wildlife. "The lesson is to have a healthy respect for any wild animal."
The sheriff's office confirmed that the victim was not the owner of the licensed nonprofit organization, but it wasn't immediately clear whether the woman was a worker or a guest of the animal sanctuary.
The facility was inspected in September and wildlife officials found no problems.
Riggs is in serious but stable condition at Tampa General Hospital.
WFTV
