I was driving in my truck about an hour ago and heard on the radio that a black bear had just killed a six year old girl and injured her two year old brother and mother. They were staying in a park in Tennessee southwest of Great Smoky Mountains National Park when a black bear came out of the woods and snatched up the little boy first. Apparently the mother and others fended off the bear, while the six year old girl ran off. They later found the bear hovering over the dead six year old girl. The boy and mother have injuries, but they should recover.
What a very unfortunate event.
Click here to read the full story
UPDATE: (04/17/06) – There is news now that Wildlife Officials have captured the bear they believe to be the one who killed the girl. The bear has been terminated and is going to the lab for testing for confirmation, disease testing, etc.
UPDATE: (04/19/06) – Oops, wrong bear? Authorities are now wondering if they caught and killed the bear that actually killed the six year old girl. Testing shows no clothing or human remains in the bear’s stomach, but they will continue to do more testing. Meanwhile, a second bear has been caught and kept alive until further evidence. More can be found here.
Something Else You Might Like:
i think that it is right what yall done to the bear. but as to the attack i don’t have much to comment. there must have been something affecting it to make it attack the family.
Update:
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_87516.asp
this is a very unfottunate event. We need to remeber that we are in their territory we need to respect them. This is not the zoo their is nothing seperating us from them on several occasions I have witnessed to many visitors taking a trail or on a scenic route get to close to a wild animal in order to get a picture. Be aware of your surroundings and educate your self before you enter these areas. You need to know what to do if you do encounter a wild animal to keep yourself and the animal safe.
This is a very unfottunate event. We need to remeber that we are in their territory, we need to respect them. This is not the zoo their is nothing seperating us from them. On several occasions I have witnessed to many visitors taking a trail or on a scenic route get to close to a wild animal in order to get a picture. Be aware of your surroundings and educate your self before you enter these areas. You need to know what to do if you do encounter a wild animal to keep yourself and the animal safe.
Before you venture into the outdoors, make sure you are familiar with the habitat and the animals that live there. If you are going to an area ihhabited by bears, at a minimum take some bear pepper spray; be aware that this pepper spray may NOT be as effective on Black bears as it has proven to be on Brown (Grizzly) bears. Keep you kids close and in your sight at all times.
I wont try to figure out the psychology of the bear, maybe it was in a bad mood, maybe it was hungry, maybe it was just wasn’t feeling friendly that day. Bears are wild animals and I might add VERY DANAGEROUS animals. BE CAREFUL when you are in their neck of the woods!
its very tragic about the little girl but at the same time i feel like the bear should have been captured,tested,then released somewhere away from humans.if we kill to protect then why shouldnt they,they was in the bears comfort zone so is the bear really to blame?
People will be killed by predators in “Parks” because of stupid laws that forbid the carrying of handguns in Parks. Of course if you kept a tally,people have killed a lot more bears than bears have killed people.If you just must be a nature NUT and go hiking unarmed in bear country,take one or two big dogs with you.Here are a few breed suggestions for dogs that have reputations for driving away bear or even African lions (1 )without getting killed, AKITA,AIREDALE TERRIER, NORWEIGAN ELKHOUND, KARELIAN BEARDOG,RUSSIAN BEAR LAIKA,RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK, PLOTT HOUND. The ALASKAN MALAMUTE,it is said,was used by Eskimoes to corner Polar Bear. I walk with a 110 pound male AIREDALE,he’s as brave as they come. Jim from TENNESSEE.