This just in: Bear kills man near Big Bear Lake *

A 39-year-old man was attacked and killed this afternoon while training a bear in a wildlife facility near Big Bear Lake. KABC and the Riverside Press-Enterprise said the attack occured at an animal training center operated by Predators in Action, Paul Pringle reports.

For unknown reasons, the bear lunged at 39-year-old Stephan Miller, a trainer at Randy Miller's Predators in Action, about 3 p.m. and bit him in the neck, said sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.

Two other trainers subdued the 5-year-old, 7 1/2 -foot-tall grizzly with pepper spray and were unhurt, Beavers said. The Predators in Action website says the bear appears in the recent WiIl Ferrell movie "Semi-Pro."

Miller, cousin of Randy Miller, was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Full story from the Times' Paul Pringle

-- Jesus Sanchez

Comments

[Carolyn Sherley]

No wonder! I feel badly for the man and the bear. But in case anyone hasn't noticed, bears are wild animals and not meant to be trained. DUH!

[Harry Bosch]

Now we know why they call it Big Bear.