Posted on 08/12/2008 7:31:50 PM PDT by marktwain
SEVIERVILLE - A father and his sons today detailed an attack by a black bear Monday night that left 8-year-old Evan Pala with staples in his head and stitches in his arms and back, binding the cuts and scrapes suffered when he was attacked from behind near the Rainbow Falls trailhead outside Gatlinburg.
"I looked around and he was on his four feet," then reared up, said Evan Pala, 8, who was playing near a creek with his brother, Alex. "He came at me too fast. I called "bear!" He jumped on me. I was screaming."
The boys' father, John Pala, and Alex, 9, pulled the bear off of Evan, but Evan tripped and the bear attacked the boy again, John Pala said. He and Alex again pulled the bear off.
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
A rather misleading way to look at the statistics, IMHO. Most of the attacks have occured since 1980, I believe, and attacks such as the one above would not even be counted, because no one was killed.
I am open to correction.
“near the Rainbow Falls trailhead outside Gatlinburg.”
Popular hike in a tourist heavy area. Bear was probably used to being fed and was just going for some non-existent marshmallows.
ping
Crusher is back...
I know they like honey and tuna fish (no need to open the can, they can just bite into it and suck out the contents) so wash up before bed, preferably with non scented soap.
My brother hiked the Smokies this weekend and ran into 4 of ‘em. Every one of them turned and approached him. He either threw rocks or flanked them.
Bears are opportunistic meat eaters. People are meat. If a bear has not learned fear of people, it is reasonable that it would try to eat one if it thought it could do it.
Bear spray works.
So will a .44 Magnum.
L
It is amazing that the boy wasn’t hurt even worse. Thank God.
I wonder if pepper spray would work?
“Bears, like humans, are omnivores. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. Insects and animal carrion provide valuable sources of protein for bears. “
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/black-bears.htm
I had a Smokies black bear get my food pack down from the tree I had it in. Get this, he sucked Ravioli out of a can through those small tooth holes. The can was bone dry inside when I found it the next day.
Amazing
“Popular hike in a tourist heavy area...”
I was just there trying to escape the crowds during a family vacation. I had my 10 month old baby with me and I am 8 months pregnant...would have been no match for a bear! Oh my!
Marginal. If you can get the bear to get close & hold still. Bear sprays are big cans with 30 foot range.
I’ve hiked many trails in the Smokies and have seen bears. I’ve also seen tourist do some of the stupidest things. They have not a clue that these are wild animals. I seen a mother bear and two cubs and a large crown was heading toward the cubs. The wife and I turned around and left the area quickly.
Rebelbase cited:
“Bears, like humans, are omnivores. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. Insects and animal carrion provide valuable sources of protein for bears. “
There is no contradiction between those two statements.
He never left ...
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