Bear Attacks In Alaska And The Smoky Mountains
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 5 months ago
COSBY, Tenn. — Rangers shot and killed a black bear Friday after a 16-year-old girl was attacked while sleeping in a hammock in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
According to park officials, the girl was camping with her family at Backcountry Campsite 29 in the Cosby section of the park when the attack happened. The family was able to drive the bear away and called for help.
The incident happened about 12:30 a.m. Friday.
When rangers arrived, they provided medical care to the teen, who had multiple cuts on her body, including to her head.
The Tennessee Military Department and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were alerted shortly before 7 a.m. Friday about the wounded teen.
A Knoxville-based Tennessee Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter arrived at the campsite about 8:45 a.m. A critical care paramedic rode a hoist down to the site, assessed the teen with rangers and then rode back up with her in the hoist to the chopper hovering overhead.
The entire hoisting operation took 14 minutes to complete, according to the National Guard.
The Blackhawk then flew her on to University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment. She was in stable condition, according to park officials.
Two bears were spotted in the area following the attack. One larger male entered the campsite several times despite the rangers’ attempts to scare it away. The family identified it as the bear that attacked the teen so rangers shot and killed it.
An Alaska hiker whose whereabouts were unknown for nearly two days after she reported being chased off a trail by bears was found alive Wednesday evening, officials said.
Fina Kiefer, 55, of Palmer, Alaska, emerged from the woods and was spotted on a road about a mile from the Pioneer Ridge trailhead. Kiefer was injured and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation, according to statements from the Alaska State Troopers as well as Alaska’s National Guard.
State troopers were notified on Tuesday around 1:29 a.m. local time that Kiefer was alone and in need of assistance on Pioneer Ridge Trail near Palmer, about 42 miles northeast of Anchorage. Kiefer had called her husband asking for help after she said she was charged by multiple bears and had to use bear spray. But she stopped responding to telephone calls and text messages shortly thereafter, according to officials.
These are tough situations, but once again, there are common themes I would highlight.
Bear spray, scaring the bears away, and medical kits. Don’t rely on spray. Carry a large bore handgun. And these people are fortunate – the national guard and helicopters won’t always be available. Carry a medical kit.
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On June 21, 2021 at 9:00 am, Jack said:
Baby black bear spotted about 3 miles north of my house, in semi-rural Hillsborough, NC
Like Alaska, bears and humans are encroaching on each other’s territory.
Stay safe.
On June 21, 2021 at 1:07 pm, scott s. said:
Great Smoky bears are known to be habituated to humans and actively forage at camping areas.
On June 21, 2021 at 4:32 pm, Geoff said:
Not that I would go hiking where bears live, but if I did I would carry my 458 SOCOM on a single point sling and my 9mm. pistol with 18 rounds as backup.
On June 21, 2021 at 9:44 pm, Paul B said:
Bear guides are real fond of 12 gauge pumps.
When I was last in Yellowstone carried a 357 snubbie. figured I would be close if I needed it.
Bears get cranky if you get between them and food or them and their cubs if it is that time of year.