Man Injured When Mauled by Pet Bear

A Fayette County man was injured Sunday morning when mauled by his pet bear.

64-year-old Marion Julius keeps a number of exotic animals on his property near Wright's Corner.  Fayette County sheriff's deputies were called at 9:33am Sunday due to a report that the bear had attacked Julius when he went in to feed the bear.  Deputies say Julius' son destroyed the animal by the time they reached the scene.

Deputies say the bear and the other animals kept by Julius have been inspected and cleared by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.  He had kept the bear for nine years.

Tri-County Fire Protection District and Arch Air assisted deputies at the scene.  Julius was airlifted for treatment to St. John's Hospital in Springfield and then was transferred to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.