[yuta250]

Unusual for black bears to attack humans. How tragic.

[HairOfTheDog]

Wonder how they're going to confirm it through a veterinarian... Do they have some kind of forensics on the bear that did the attacks?

Is it being tested dead, or alive?

[vetvetdoug]

I investigated a very large pseudorabies outbreak in a hog farm in Benton, Tn, back in 1977-78. The hogs were mishandled and thrown into a pit where the local wildlife fed upon them and infected the wildlife with the virus. Now the virus is endemic in the local wildlife. This bear was probably taken to the College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, Tennessee. I also worked with the NPS in the GSNP 1977-1980 taking census of the wildlife and encountered the bears many times. I had a few close calls but never was threatened by one of them. We always strung our backpacks from a rope that was tied between two trees and never brought food into the tent. There were several times the bears came close. One more caveat, we were legally armed with .45 M1911's.

[HairOfTheDog]

Moore said authorities planned to euthanize the bear on Sunday and send its body to the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville to determine whether it was the one that had attacked the family.

Animal experts plan to compare the bear with hairs that were shed during the attack, said Bob Miller, a spokesman for Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They also will look for gunshot wounds since the bear that attacked the family was shot.

I guess I could have answered both my questions if I'd clicked the link first...

[TexasCajun]

Profiling "Black" bears are they?

Calling Jesse! Calling Al! ...better get down there.

[george76]

The family from Clyde, Ohio ...

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***The man said he shot twice at the bear with a pistol before it ran away. ***

Isn't it against the law to have firearms in a National Recreational Area? Sounds like warrents need to be issued! Sarc/off.

I ALWAYS have firepower near any time I am out in the woods at National forest/park/campground/ect. I know I am in violation but I prefer to be safe, not sorry.