Fayette County man mauled by captive bear
BEECHER CITY, Ill. — A southern Illinois man was mauled by his black bear at a farm in rural Fayette County.
WNOI-FM reports Marion Julius suffered a broken hip and leg as well as bites to his arm when he went into the bear’s cage Sunday. He was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital.
Federal agriculture officials say Julius was licensed to keep a variety of animals on his Beecher City property known as Julius Acres.
Records show the site was home to 17 bison, 8 goats, 2 llamas, a yak, an alpaca, a water buffalo and the North American black bear.
He had the animals under an exhibitor license, which he obtained in 2012. Julius passed a series of federal inspections, including one as recently as May 29.
The bear was euthanized.
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