Very sad.
I could never understand stories like this. They're in wildlife/bear territory when out in the woods at campgrounds, and they fault a bear when he's doing what comes natural for him to survive! I just don't get it! Now they're hunting him to kill him. UGH!
Too sad a story to bare!
Coloradoans beware of bears also! Laws have restricted the hunting of bears several years ago and bear sightings and bears breaking into houses are on the increase.
This is indeed a tragedy, but also a predictable consequence of the bear repopulation effort. Wildlife experts, history, and others know these tragedies will happen from time to time. Too many people don't understand that feral bears are not pets, they are not harmless, and they sometimes are not in harmony with humans.
We live in the Poconos - - 75 miles from NYC - - on a farm that has been in the family for over 150 years. This is not a national park, but we have had bears come on three occasions and kill our livestock in the last 10 years. They are immensely powerful. The bear carried a 150 lb sheep over a 5' fence on one occasion. In 1980 there were about 3,000 bears in all of PA. Now there are five or more times that many. Many have never been hunted and have no fear of humans. Many have also been hand fed by people.
"Allegedly"? Has the bear already lawyered-up?
Prayers for this family. Cannot imagine the terror, the guilt and the pain.
These bears I assume have lost their fear of man. If there's not a bear hunting season in Tenn, there sure needs to be one.
Just got back from a trip to the Smoky Mountains area a few months ago. On two occasions all traffic stopped on the roads because of a 'bear sighting'. People got out of their cars with cameras and tried to lure the 'cute little bears' to them with treats so they could snap a photo. Idiots! We hiked to about 15 falls in the SC/NC/TN area and never encountered a bear - and most of the falls were pretty remote, with no other humans in sight. Bears are fine if no one tries to 'humanize' them. They are wild animals, and need to be treated as such, with respect and awe and fear. When we go into the woods, we are in their territory. The consequences of our actions are our own. We might be perceived as food or as a threat - depending on the bear. That being said, I know I will be eaten the next time I go for a hike.
I use to see bears all the time backpacking and rafting in the Smokies.
Once met a couple hiking out with only a back frame left, after a bear tore up their gear getting food. We gave them food and water and told them to turn around go downhill as it was only a half day's walk out that away as opposed to a two day uphill climb.
We live on the edge of the Wekiva Forest here in Central Florida. After the hurricanes of '05, a family of black bears, including an uppity juvenile male, started coming in around the houses to scavenge.
Mostly they stay to themselves, but there have been some incidents -- mostly involving yappy shitzy dogs, etc. My husband was walking the dog one night and came upon what he thought was a homeless guy digging through our neighbor's trash. It was only when the 'guy' stood on his hind feet and grunted did he realize it was a bear. Thankfully, the bear, despite being at least 4 times larger, was intimidated by our dog and scampered off into the woods.
The bad news is, the bears have become minor celebrities in our area, and we have the brain trusts who somehow think its a real good idea to try to engage them in cuddle fests and entice the little ones with food.
They say there's never been a black bear fatality in Florida, but I think that'll probably change in a few short years.
Scary stuff.
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