A remote village in Alaska experienced a deadly polar bear attack on Tuesday.
Two persons, a 24-year-old Summer Myomick of Saint Michael and her 1-year-old son Clyde Ongtowasruk, were targeted by the bear after it ransacked and antagonized a native village of about 150 people in Wales, Alaska, located at the westernmost point of the North American mainland on the Seward Peninsula
"Initial reports indicate that a polar bear had entered the community and had chased multiple residents," Alaska State Troopers said in a statement.
A local man engaged it with a gun during the attack on the victims and was able to kill it before any others were hurt.
While tragic, the attack may not be that surprising after a 2021 report by the United States Geological Survey found an uptick in human and polar bear interactions were inevitable as living spaces and resources overlap.
Scientists in Alaska noted an increase in polar bears appearing on land more frequently due to changes in sea ice habitats, according to the Associated Press.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but officials had not been able to make it to the site due to poor weather conditions.