Comments on: Black Bear Mauls 8-Year-Old Boy

Boy Survives; Father Is Injured Defending Son In Attack At Tennessee National Park

[cbsfan73]

There are signs all around the park and on brochures warning of the potential of a bear encounter.

I suppose out of sight is out of mind. When I am in back country, I stop, look, listen, often and try to be very aware of my surroundings.

[cbsfan73]

The problem is that the Smokies are so close to densely populated areas. One of the worst disasters of the area is the cancerous build up (tourist attractions)just west of the park. With Dollywood being the first and worst sinner.

Then they now have gambling on the east side in Cherokee.

The main road through the park gets twenty million visitors per year because there is no park entry fee*.
When you pay $30 to go through the gates of Yellowstone, you are also paying for another guy to go through the Smokies.

Trying to get through that area can be like a city traffic jam at times. The road has entirely too much traffic and most of the tags are not from NC or TN. I was there many times in the 60''s and 70''s and it was so peaceful and not crowded at all. I wish it were like that now.

SOLUTION: Either limit daily entries into the park or change legislation to start charging a fee for people that are not residents of NC or TN.

*This fee would be illegal under the current agreement where the states of TN & NC gave land to the park service with the stipulation that no fees shall be charged to travel the road.

[slim1h2o]

That''''s funny right there, I don''''t care who you are!

Posted by Hwy71So at 10:01 AM : Aug 12, 2008

Hey Larry, the cable guy,,how are ya? LOL

[haoli25]

Profiling!!! Call Al Sharpton and Jesse right away!

[berniepeders]

Global warming is causing this. Because of man''''s selfishness and propensity to destroy the environment, black bears are being forced to prey on humans to maintain the ecological balance.

Posted by mike071067 at

No, no, no, Mike- haven''t you been paying attention? This is all George Bush''s fault. He''s responsible for absolutely EVERYTHING that happens that someone doesn''t like, right?

[talkingham]

Yes, they knew the bear by it''s description. It was a black bear. Just as Stephen Colbert says, KILL IT!!!!

[cyinzl8r]

Global warming is causing this. Because of man''''s selfishness and propensity to destroy the environment, black bears are being forced to prey on humans to maintain the ecological balance.

Naw it''s bush and cheney''s fault

[hwy71so]

BTW, bears aren''t all identical. Just like deer, elk, dogs and people. They''ve each got their own distinctive look.

[hwy71so]

One thing you''ve got to be aware of in the wilderness environment is your surroundings. Most likely the boy got too far from his parents and the bear just did what bears do with the young of any larger animal species, singled out a weaker unit. If the boy would have been more closely supervised, I doubt it would have happened.

I hope his recovery goes swiftly. I really hate seeing the kids come to harm.

***And where was his mother? Probably yacking it up on a cell phone somewhere no doubt.

Posted by GOP_forever at 09:01 AM : Aug 12, 2008***

That''s funny right there, I don''t care who you are!

[displeased]

Um ok lets go swim in the creek where bears go to search for food real smart! And lets kill the bear who was in its territory this annoys me to no end! Dumb *** people!
Posted by elukacek

This attack is highly unusual, especially from a black bear. Maybe it had rabies or something. Other than swimming pools, there is danger everywhere you swim. Sharks in the ocean, gators down south, bears, poisonous snakes, snappers most other places. In most cases, the animals encountered try to go the other way. It appears from your comment you must be from the city. If that''s the case, your fear is somewhat understandable.

[dogsoul]

....ah yes, here we go with all the people sitting on the edge of their seats just waiting to show how ''green'' they are by slamming mankind & his ways... whatever. It''s Global Warming eh? Really? Um, ya think any bear attacks happened pre-Industrial era? Yeah buddy - guess what USED to live where your home is now... that''s right, other animals.

Look you tree huggers - they were in a park - people SHOULD go to parks - it''s probably the favorite hangout to smoke pot for most of you hippies - but sometimes, there''s a confrontation with an animal...

Liberals - could give a cr*p about an 8 year old boy... but weep inconsolably because some bear got killed - what is WRONG with you people?

[nothappyatall]

Park rangers later killed a bear matching the description of the one in the attack."

"Yes sir, he attacked me!"
"What did he look like?"
"He was black, lots of hair and big!"
"Ok, we''ll find him! this should be easy- that''s a rare and unique profile!"

Stay the hel1 out of the bear''s habitat you idiots!

[gopack443]

"Park rangers later killed a bear matching the description of the one in the attack."

And the description was A BLACK BEAR! Sounds to me like they killed one at random to pacify some people.

[tungincheek]

I would love to know how you describe one bear vs. another. Did they have a line-up?

[hidegirlgcks]

Poor little guy!! I hope he''s ok. Maybe should wear some bear repelant or something next time.

[jydavis1]

where was dad''s gun ?

[elukacek]

Um ok lets go swim in the creek where bears go to search for food real smart! And lets kill the bear who was in its territory this annoys me to no end! Dumb *** people!

[toldyouso12]

t is great they survived. But people need to understand they are the outsiders in these areas. They are in the animals domain. Use common sense!

Posted by navpro at 08:36 AM : Aug 12, 2008


Other than to stay out of the woods, there is no common sense tactics for avoiding bears--if they can and want to, they will attempt to enter cabins.

[toldyouso12]

Every once in a while, it`s a good thing to remember that we are NOT at the very end of the food chain.


Posted by Nancy_Naive at 05:52 AM : Jul 21, 2008 (taken from another bear related article)


No, most of us know that. Bacteria and perhaps Plankton are at the very end of the food chain. I think you meant that we are not at the very top of the food chain. The top is where the predators /meat eaters are.

[Gary Kempf]

It is great they survived. But people need to understand they are the outsiders in these areas. They are in the animals domain. Use common sense!