Posted on 09/12/2020 5:55:09 PM PDT by buckalfa
SWAIN COUNTY, N.C. (WATE) — Great Smoky Mountains National Park reports that rangers had to euthanize a bear after finding it scavenging on human remains that were reported by backpackers near Hazel Creek Trail and Backcountry Campsite 82 on Friday.
GSMNP officials report that on Friday afternoon, backpackers found human remains across the creek with a bear scavenging in the area, and they left to get cell coverage to report the incident to authorities right away.
Rangers and wildlife officers rushed to the scene after communication staff received the report just after 7 p.m.
When staff arrived at Backcountry Campsite 82 shortly after midnight, they confirmed the report of a deceased adult male; they also found a bear actively scavenging on the remains and euthanized the bear.
Rangers are working to notify next of kin, and as of right now the cause of death is unknown and this case remains under investigation.
GSMNP says that Back Country Campsite 82 and Hazel Creek Trail will remain closed until further notice between the juncture with Cold Springs Gap Trail and Welch Ridge Trail.
“Coincidently, yesterday I rode the tourist steam train...”
What a hoot. I bet the wife and I saw you pull out of the station yesterday because we were in Bryson City cruising the shops...in the rain. This is God’s country...not to mention lots of Trump signs.
Read this in the online paper this morning. Thanks for posting it here for discussion.
I’ve seen that train several times when paddling through the Natahala River Gorge.
About 4 years back my kids and I camped for a few nights on Santeetlah Creek near Joyce Kilmer Nat. Forest. It’s the most remote road camping I’ve found in NC.
A local bear hunter and his son were out training their dogs and asked to come into our camp as a pair of their dogs were headed that way (tracking collars). While waiting for the dogs to show we had a great time asking questions to which they happily replied.
These guys let the dogs chase the bear and follow along which means they go where the bear goes which is straight up the mountain, then sideways then down then up again and through the thickest brush.
I asked the father what was the most eventful hunt he ever had was. He told me the dogs had chased the bear into a rhododendron thicket but didn’t go inside. He crawled in on hands and knees for 50 yards and heard a grunt, looked up and was face to face with a big bruiser. He reached for his pistol that was strapped to his chest and found he’d zipped up his jacket. Said that was the most scared he’d ever been in his life.
They had a face off for couple of minutes then the bear turned away and headed off. His hunting partner was waiting for it at the top of the ridge and dispatched it.
What is a firestick?
BLM.... Bear Lives Matter????
Aaahhh….Santeetlah Creek. Perhaps only second to nearby Snowbird Creek as my favorite mountain stream. It isn’t as nice now as it was 30 years or so ago. The hemlock wooly adelgid has done a number on the Canadian hemlocks.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. I don’t think that there is a nicer piece of forest in the eastern United States. Once again, the loss of the hemlocks has been awful, but the yellow poplars are still magnificent. We try to go there every few years and take a photo of us between the two giant yellow poplars that are side by side. Good memories. (Some would say that being a tree-hugger is my greatest failing as a conservative.)
“What is a firestick?”
A gun.
Probably not a caliber that would take out a bear, but I can run faster than my wife.
`”A gun.”
D’oh! Duh, should have known that.
Very cool! I’m 65 but in pretty good shape /and do a fair amount of rather “uncomfortable” stuff, so unless my back is bothering me (I seem to manage to strain it once a year or so despite proper lifting technique), I should be fine.
My daughter loves trains, so she’d get a huge kick out of it.
Thanks for the info.!
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