Author Topic: 6year old gir killed by bear (Read 1677 times)

victorcharlie · « **on:** April 14, 2006, 01:34:25 AM »

This is about 40 miles east of where I live, and seems to be highly unusual....but hey, it happens, doesn't it?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060414/ap_on_re_us/bear_attack

Syncerus · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2006, 05:38:20 AM »

It's sad, isn't it? There's always a risk when major predators are in close proximity to humans.

Syncerus

Siskiyou · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2006, 07:04:16 AM »

Campground bears are not zoo bears. They will back off many times but they know that people are normally afraid of them and will back off at which time they get the nice meal that was brought to the mountain for them. Bear incidents are common and under reported. Many groups have the Teddy Bear complex vilify those who would dare shot a campground bear. I strongly recommend the purchase of pepper spray designed to ward-off bears. In fact I am going to buy some and loan it to my daughter's family who take and annual camping trip to Lake Tahoe. In an emergency it will also work the two leg vermin.

In the late 1960s two city boys went fishing along a backcountry stream. After a successful day of fishing they stopped at a trail camp for the night. They cleaned their fishing tossing the guts around the camp. One of the boys had long hair. In the fish gutting process he had brushed his hair back out of his face.

The boys had settled into their sleeping bags when they realized they had a bear in the camp. In their fear they did not shout at the bear. Soon the bear found the longhaired boy. He cupped a paw on each side of the boy's head. The boy let out a scream, scaring the bear away. In the process a claw(s) raked the boy's head tearing the scalp. A rescue and trip to the hospital was required. The boy required 120 + stitches. At the hospital they found fish scales in the boys hair when they were cleaning his wounds.

The theory was that the bear thought he had found another pile of fish guts. Come daylight a Sheriffs helicopter flew the area looking for the bear. It was not spotted but the bear may have been scared out of the area by the helicopter. There were discussing of hunting down the bear with dogs, but wildlife officers recommended against it. Because the bear had not been a problem before, and the boys had created their own problem.

Below is a very incomplete list of bear incidents from a long under funded organization.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news03/bear_incidents.html
http://www.vic.com/tnchron/archive/SPRINGNE2.htm#bear

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2006, 07:54:15 AM »

The real shame is it's a violation of Federal Law to possess a firearm in the park.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2006, 11:48:14 AM »

Just a couple of bear options.

http://www.udap.com/bearnews.pdf

http://www.udap.com/markfullstory.htm

As a society we punish those who obey the rules by taking away their rights as a result of actions by those bottom feeders who chose to outrage society. Case in point was the guy who shoot-up the school in Stockton, CA killing many with an AK-47. A few days before he had been arrested while shooting up an area on a National Forest. There were a number of issues, I believe drugs were involved. He ended up naked occupying a suicide watch cell in the country jail. He was later ORd by a judge. He was released by the judge despite a plea from the DA that the suspect was a treat to society. His actions were the trigger point for California's Assault Weapon Law.

The next big target will be SUVs. Yesterday a 20-year-old male driving a SUV caused a semi truck to crash on a California freeway. Now SUV's/4x4 vehicle's have been under attack for sometime. Many wanting to outlaw them. The first thing I heard on TV was that a SUV caused the crash. The SUV did not cause the crash, the twenty year-old male driving the SUV caused the crash.

Oops off target.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2006, 04:26:03 PM »

I just found the Family and Forest Service's news release regarding the bear attack.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee/news2003/2006/BentonFallsIncident/FamilyStatement.pdf

Siskiyou · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2006, 08:48:54 AM »

I just read on Yahoo that the suspected bear has been captured and the "body" is to be brought out by 2 p.m. today.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee/news2003/2006/BentonFallsIncident/Bear_Capture_Release4_16.pdf

victorcharlie · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2006, 07:51:26 AM »

I spoke with one of the fellows on our Bowater lease. His son in law is on the Polk Co. Rescue squad. His SIL and friend found the little girl doing a GPS grid search. The bear was still there and charged them. Three rounds fired from a .380 ACP is what turned the bear. I haven't heard if the bear that was caught in the trap has any bullets in it or if the bear is in fact the one that done the deed.

Sourdough · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2006, 09:21:02 PM »

Black Bears are preditors, and are on record to have killed and eaten more victums than Grizzlies. I feel such images as Smoky the Bear has done far more harm than good by removing peoples ability to accept that a Black Bear could possiably hurt someone. Here in Alaska we know better. People that lose their fear of bears, or at least their respect for wild bears don't last long. Look at Treadwell, a prime example.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2006, 01:28:47 AM »

Quote from: Siskiyou

I just read on Yahoo that the suspected bear has been captured and the "body" is to be brought out by 2 p.m. today.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee/news2003/2006/BentonFallsIncident/Bear_Capture_Release4_16.pdf

A bear has been captured in a live trap near Chilahowie campground. The captured bear has no bullets in it. The bear has been killed and sent to the University of Tennessee for DNA and other testing. This bear is probably not the bear that killed the little girl or all three rounds from the .380 missed there mark. Chilahowie campground remains closed until the test results come back.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2006, 09:24:00 PM »

Geeze, if just ONE person had've had the good sense to ignore the law and pack a 44 mag. this senseless mess would've never happened. Of course, he'd've had to have had the good sense to let the bear ACTUALLY ATTACK the child before using his gun, otherwise he would've ended up in jail for killing for poor defenseless animal!! :evil:

victorcharlie · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2006, 02:11:51 AM »

The results are back from UT. The bear that was killed and examined is not the bear that attacked the little girl and her family. The campground remains closed, and the hunt goes on.

There are a few old redneck boys in Polk county that have some pretty good bear dogs or so I'm told. If they had called one of them immediatly, they might have the bear.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2006, 12:21:49 PM »

In the late 70s a drunk and his family went camping in a Southern California campground. His wife got tired of his behavior and kicked him out of the tent. Sometime after 3 a.m. the Sheriffs Department received a call that a bear had been shot and wounded in the campground. The bear was on the loose and could not be located.

The shooting turned into a media event. The Fish & Game was the lead agency with assistance from the Forest Service and Sheriffs Department. At the time of the event the campground was full. Any good sign was quickly destroyed. A couple of noted hounds men brought their dogs in and worked them hard. The country surrounding the campground was extremely steep, with heavy vegetation, and loose rock. After a week they gave up. No bear was found, and at that point because of human traffic they were not sure the first blood spots were blood. No CSI types.

But the media was having a field day. Even the New York Post got into the act and it was all over the TV. Letters poured into the Forest Service, Sheriffs Department, and Fish & Game. Everybody wanted the shooters hide. It was reported that a co-worker had punched the shooter out, and his neighbors were giving him a bad time. The local judges and magistrates were lining up to hear the case. Judges are politicians and they wanted to see their name in print. Things were looking bad for the shooter, but they only had his statement that he shoot at a bear, there were no witnesses, and there was no bear to be found. The shooter happily paid a fine for discharging a firearm in a campground and thanked his lucky stars. (Weapon .357 Mag.)

In another high profile California case a California Highway Patrolman shot a bear with his duty .357 while on an outing with a girls group. (Girl Scouts??) He then tried to cover-up the incident. But that was a foolish thought on his part. The California Fish & Game prosecuted him, and he was convicted. I believe he lost his job over the bear shooting. And the relationship between F&G and CHP was rather tight lipped.

Back in the 50s and 60s bears that took up residence in campgrounds were taken care of by agreement of the agencies. But now days they are political issue. I resent that money collected from hunting license and tags are used to deal with bear and lion problems in areas that it is prohibited to hunt them. I do have a few thoughts on the issue.

When I set up my tent camp during deer season I normally have a handgun on my belt. I may not be fast enough to run a few feet for my rifle. In my younger days I would tell my companions that I did not need to out run a bear, I just needed to out run them.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2006, 12:20:29 PM »

The latest from the local news:

A bear was sighted less than 2 miles from a Polk County elementry school, which resulted in no recess for the kids.

Do you think they'll kill them all? (the bears I mean)

Siskiyou · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2006, 12:42:40 PM »

Every situation is different, but many times people are the problems. Some people are so kind they are dangerous. The lady I am thinking of no longer surprises me. One day I observed her running around the parking lot at work with a cup in her hand. There had been a down pour from a thunder storm and earth worms were washed out on the pavement. She was saving them and carrying them back over to the grass area.

She and her husband own a very nice home on a few acres just outside of town. The neighborhood started having a rash of bear problems soon after she moved in. I kept my ear to the ground and found out she had been feeding the bears. After the Fish & Game did door to door contacts in the nieghborhood I do not think she quit feeding the bears. She just became more sneaky. Her efforts were creating bears that had to be disposed of.

CNN had a nice bear in the back yard story today. The bear was part of a study group and left the study area. It had a nice bright orange collar.

But F&G people have learned that in most cases moving a problem bear does not take care of the problem. Either the bear returns or a new area developes bear problems.

Years ago a guy from Alabama violated all the rules in Yellowstone regarding bears. He found out that he could not outrun a bear. He sued the government because he was injuried.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2006, 08:24:24 PM »

VictorCharlie: What are folks saying in your part of the world? You are closer then most of us. The story has dropped out of the news on the West Coast. I went to your TWRA site to get an update. Kind of a wait and see report. I found the same report on the TWRA and USFS sites.

USDA Forest Service -
Cherokee National Forest
Bear Attack Update

April 25, 2006

Information Regarding the Various Stages of the Bear Attack and On-Going Investigation

The Attack
An attack by a black bear on April 13, 2006 in the Cherokee National Forest ended in tragedy with two injuries and a fatality. The bear seriously injured a 45-year old woman and her two-year old son and killed the woman's six-year old daughter near the Chilhowee Recreation Area, about 22 miles east of Cleveland, Tennessee. This attack on humans by a black bear is a very unusual and rare event. This is the second recorded fatal attack by a black bear in the Southeastern United States.

Two shots were fired at the bear from a small caliber handgun in adverse conditions by a rescue worker. It is unknown whether or not a bullet hit the animal. There was no conclusive evidence that the bear was actually hit. No employees of the USDA Forest Service (USFS), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) or Tennessee State Parks were involved with the shooting.

The Chilhowee Recreation Area will remain closed indefinitely while the investigation is being conducted.

The Capture
The TWRA set traps in the area, one close to the site of the attack and several others in a one and a half mile area surrounding it. The bear captured Sunday was found in the trap close to the attack site, while the one captured Monday was found in one of the perimeter traps. Since the second capture, all the perimeter traps have been deactivated. The one near the attack site is still active.

Bear 1- Captured April 16
A male bear weighing over 200 pounds was found on Sunday, April 16 in a trap set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) near the site of the incident. The bear's body was taken to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Knoxville. There was no evidence, like ear tags or tattoos, to indicate the bear had been captured before or had been brought in from outside the Cherokee National Forest.

Bear 2- Captured April 17
A male bear was trapped on Monday, April 17, approximately one and a half miles from the site of the attack. The bear is alive and being held while the forensic tests on the first bear are being conducted.

The Forensic Investigation
Samples and other evidence have been gathered and are being evaluated by appropriate testing facilities for further forensic analysis. The results of the analysis may take longer since the techniques and technology normally used to deal with human-on-human incidents are being adapted to deal with a wild animal.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #16 on:** May 05, 2006, 06:36:22 AM »

Latest news is the Ohio woman was released from the hospital a few days ago and has returned home to Ohio.

Chilohowee camp ground remains closed and will probably stay that way until June.

Locals that live in Polk County are reporting more bear sightings that usual. A close friend that lives near Chilohowee tells me the locals are seeing bears behind every bush.

He tells me the bear population in Polk County has been on the increase for several years and as a result are starting to make there way farther out of the park on to private property.

The story is almost dead on the local news, but I usually see an update about once a week.

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #17 on:** May 05, 2006, 07:17:23 AM »

0235 I woke up this am to a explosive sound of metal being hit,a Black Bear hit the bird feeder [15' off the ground] and broke the cast iron feeder to pieces,I release the dogs,did not take a flashlight or a weapon and saw it disapear with the dogs,dogs came back ok.The bear also was on the porch and into the bird feed so they are out there and not afraid of humans.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2006, 06:10:31 AM »

The local news has reported that another campground near Chilhowee has reported an aggressive bear coming in to the campground and getting near the fire.

The campground owner has been "disappointed" in the response he has received from the TWRA as the bear has been sighted in the campground 4 times in a week and TWRA took a week to respond and place traps. The owner, his wife, and employees are now armed and ready to resolve the problem should TWRA fail to meet the locals needs.

Still no definate report as to if the bear killed, or the bear caught in a trap, are the bears that mauled the Ohio family. It's been a month......hopefully we'll know soon.........

victorcharlie · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2006, 04:44:34 PM »

The results are back......it was the second bear caught that killed the little girl.

http://www.wdef.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WDEF/MGArticle/DEF_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188482953

Siskiyou · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2006, 06:57:33 PM »

Thanks for the update. A sad event.

The news in the Serria foothills is a number of backyard bears. The common factor is the F&G estimates their age around two. Mommy must have kicked them out this spring. Stories in Sac Bee and TV. Hopefully people will use caution.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2006, 01:40:20 AM »

There have been a number of bear sighting in Polk Co.....this alone isn't unusual, but they seem to be moving out of the mountains and into the valleys where they run into people.

I've also read post in another forum from Maine and NY that the bears seem to be doing the same thing there.

I was thinking that around here, the wild hogs compete with the bears for habitat and maybe that was pushing them farther out.......or, maybe the bear population is up?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2006, 11:21:13 AM »

I know the bear population is up in California. The feel goods have limited the kill below a realistic point. They must think it is better to have the F&G dispose of the bear. Realistic brain waves disappeared in a puff of smoke in the "60's."