[HairOfTheDog]

Well, just misinformed about the normal behavior of black bears. Normally black bears are mostly vegetarian or scavengers of opportunity. They aren't primary predators the way grizzlies are. If people behave the way they usually do, people will be on high alert in this area for awhile, but in time, assuming they find the bear or there are no new attacks, they'll become more complacent. I trail ride in black bear country and have seen bear twice now, but while we always respond with caution, calm caution is usually all that's called for.

This was a very unusual event with a very unusual bear. I've wondered, without any real evidence, about the possibility of something like rabies causing this. This was not a spontaneous and quick attack but a prolonged one involving multiple victims and separate acts of attack.

[eastforker]

One thing most people do not realize is that an animal can also suffer from mental illness so to speak, making it a killing machine. Just killing for killings sake. I think thats what happens even in some dog attacks. Again rabies could be an explanation.

[george76]

Bear Mauls and Kills Infant in New York State

A bear killed an infant Monday afternoon as it tried to drag the girl into the woods, officials said.

The baby, Ester Schwimmer of Brooklyn, was snatched out of her stroller by the bear at the bungalow colony, police said.

Fallsburg is about 70 miles northwest of New York City.

Isaac Abraham, a community leader from Williamsburg in Brooklyn, said witnesses told him the 5-month-old girl was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital upon arrival.

The baby was in a stroller in front of the porch with members of her family, said Mike Fraser, a state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman.

The bear grabbed the stroller and the child, Fraser said. The child was knocked out of the stroller and the bear tried to drag her into the woods, Fraser said.…

http://www.maineguides.org/referendum/bear_attacks01.shtml