Posted on 09/12/2020 5:55:09 PM PDT by buckalfa
SWAIN COUNTY, N.C. (WATE) — Great Smoky Mountains National Park reports that rangers had to euthanize a bear after finding it scavenging on human remains that were reported by backpackers near Hazel Creek Trail and Backcountry Campsite 82 on Friday.
GSMNP officials report that on Friday afternoon, backpackers found human remains across the creek with a bear scavenging in the area, and they left to get cell coverage to report the incident to authorities right away.
Rangers and wildlife officers rushed to the scene after communication staff received the report just after 7 p.m.
When staff arrived at Backcountry Campsite 82 shortly after midnight, they confirmed the report of a deceased adult male; they also found a bear actively scavenging on the remains and euthanized the bear.
Rangers are working to notify next of kin, and as of right now the cause of death is unknown and this case remains under investigation.
GSMNP says that Back Country Campsite 82 and Hazel Creek Trail will remain closed until further notice between the juncture with Cold Springs Gap Trail and Welch Ridge Trail.
Bears are nature’s clean up crew.
Bear probably thought it was his lucky day, and winds up getting whacked for his troubles...
Gun shot to the foot/knee?
I don’t envy the coroner who gets this job.
A good metaphor for a sports writer...
Not to worry the dead guy will still vote for the Democrats in the next 47 presidential elections.
Cleanup on Trail 8...
This bear may have just been scavenging remains of a person who died of natural causes. Not much way to tell now.
I once worked as a biologist for three years in a National Park. My job typically involved working in wilderness areas. I often worked alone. I saw hundreds of black bears. The biggest predictor of bear habitat in the eastern U.S. is an area that doesn’t have humans in large numbers. Bears that aren’t acclimated to humans (repeat, aren’t acclimated to humans) will almost always run when they see people. Out of the hundreds of black bears that I saw in those three years, only three worried me. I was charged once. I also had the largest black bear that I had ever seen (easily 500 pounds plus and obviously aged) deliberately change its course to come in my direction before eventually opting to move elsewhere. My biggest fear, though, was when I was followed by a bear at fairly close range for approximately six miles in the most remote part of the park. Definitely not typical bear habitat.
Over 99% of bears will not bother you. In fact, they will typically run from you. However, that one percent...
“I don’t envy the coroner who gets this job.”
—
It’s a grizzly job, but he’s used to it.
“This bear may have just been scavenging remains of a person who died of natural causes.”
—
Covid - it was what killed the bear, too.
"Sometimes you eat the bear..."
Thanks for that report. I’m curious, did you carry anything for self defense?
No. I sometimes do now when in remote areas.
As an aside, I don’t know offhand exactly where Backcountry Campsite 82 is, but I do know that Hazel Creek is in one of the most remote areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You don’t get there by accident. Unless you take a boat across Fontana Lake, it is at least a ten mile hike.
Funny story - my mother-in-law’s house is in an area of regular bear traffic. One day my daughter was staying over, sitting out at the picnic table reading and a VERY large black bear cake sauntering through the yard. My daughter froze but was with it enough to call into the house to my mother-in-law. She came out, looked at the bear and simply told it to “GIT!”. Off it went.
Crunchy outside, with a soft chewy treat in the middle
And also whatever was in the backpack
Of the bear?
Might be tough, the article said there was poor cell phone service.
I always have multiple options with when in state parks
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