The American black bear is one of the largest and heaviest wild mammals in Missouri.

A man mauled at a remote campsite sent photos of a bear to his family before his death, Arkansas sheriff’s deputies said.

The Arkansas State Crime Lab ruled the man’s death an animal mauling and the manner of death as an accident, the local sheriff’s office said in an Oct. 3 news release. DNA tests are pending to confirm he died from a bear attack.

The 60-year-old Missouri man had gone several days without checking in with family, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office said in an Oct. 2 news release. Two days earlier, on the morning of Sept. 30, the man sent his family pictures of a bear in his camp, at the Sam’s Throne recreation area, in Ozark National Forest.

On Oct. 2, the man’s son called for local deputies to check the area for his father. His father had been camping since Sept. 29 and was expected to return home to Springfield, Missouri, on Oct. 3, the Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

A deputy found the man’s campsite disturbed, with evidence of struggle and injury. Drag marks led from the campground into the woods, where the man’s body was found several yards away. The man had extensive injuries consistent with a large carnivore attack.

Officials haven't released the man’s name. The local sheriff's office didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Oct. 4.

Officials are trying to find the bear, including with the help of local hunters whose dogs are used to hunt bears. The Sam’s Throne campground is closed until further notice.

Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said officials will be able to identify the bear based on photos, and officials had the bear’s approximate size, weight and identifying markings. The bear is described as a juvenile male “likely weaned” this year, Wheeler said.

Officials plan to kill the bear so the state Game and Fish Commission can test for anything that may have led to the suspected mauling death. Once bears become predatory, they often continue those behaviors, Wheeler said.

The sheriff warned against “open season” on any bear people come across. He said “most bears fear humans and run away. But, at the same time, don't put yourself or others in jeopardy.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A camper was found mauled to death. A photo holds a clue about what happened.

Reporting by Marta Mieze and Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect