That happened just a few miles from me. We've been listening to it on the scanner. I've spent many hours in that forest. Most black bears here are timid. Somebody shot this one but it ran off so they are tracking it. Bear attacks here are extremely rare but we have a lot of bears. They don't hibernate here and are fairly active most of the year. We have one that hangs out on our farm and I've seen it a few times from horseback. It's peaceful and hasn't been aggressive.
I can't imagine trying to save one child and end up having the other one killed.
They haven't mentioned cubs on the scanner yet but odds are she did have some. Most aren't aggressive unless they have cubs, like you said. I think they said on the scanner that the victims were from Ohio but I'm not sure.
I ride mountain bikes in the People's Republic of New Jersey and we have plenty of bears here. I have been within 20 feet of a bear -- shocked the hell out of both of us. The bears usually run away about 200 feet and turn to look to see what you are going to do. The answer is -- back away slowly and make noise.
It is kind of scary to be that close to something that could easily kill you with just one swat. They are both magnificent and clumsy creatures. I feel terrible for these people.
I agree. This would be a nightmare for me to relive everyday for quite some time. Based on the article, the boy is in critical condition. I pray he hangs on.
Here's some CNF and ajoining frequencies if you don't have them. 168.025, 168.0750,168.6250,415.5250,411.3250, 168.6750, 169.9250 {Tellico}, 168.7250 {common} I don't know how active some of these are now. I have more but I can't find my cheat sheets.. TWRA you can forget as they went to ASTRO years ago and broadcast digital.
If there were cubs around that was the most logical reason. You can be in danger and not even realize it as many times the cubs are high up in trees and mama may not be in sight at the time. Really it's best to make some noise {enough just to be heard} so the bears can leave the area before you get there. But like others have said I've seen plenty of persons who think black bears are tame and try to get as close as possible. Cades Cove in the Smoky's is the worse for it. Actually the bears that frequent campgrounds etc are much more a danger than others as they have lost the fear of humans. Unless they shot it with a large caliber all they managed to do was make it more angrier.