Boy Killed By Black Bear In Utah

Wildlife Officers Kill Animal They Believe Was Responsible For Pulling 11-Year-Old From Tent

(CBS/AP)  Wildlife officers on Monday fatally wounded a bear they believed was the same animal that snatched an 11-year-old boy from his family's tent and killed the youngster.

The bear had been wounded early in the day and was pursued by hunters aided by a helicopter and 26 tracking dogs. It was described as a male, possibly 300 pounds and "jet black." Authorities were sure it was the right animal because the dogs had tracked its scent from the boy's camp site.

The bear was confirmed dead late Monday morning near the area where the boy was killed, said Lt. Scott White of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

The boy was sleeping alone in one section of the family's large tent late Sunday. He screamed before he was dragged away in his sleeping bag in a canyon about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, said sheriff's Lt. Dennis Harris.

The boy's stepfather heard the scream, and immediately got up and ran out of the tent to try to find out what was going on. But there was no sign of the boy, Harris told CBS station KUTV.

A host from a nearby campground contacted police, who feared the boy had been kidnapped. Deputies blocked off the canyon, checking vehicles.

The boy's body was found about 400 yards from the tent, in the direction of another campsite where a bear sighting had been reported earlier in the weekend, Harris said.

"All he wanted to do was come up and have a good time with his family. And then something like this happens," Harris said. "It's probably the most devastating thing that can happen to a family."

"It's shaken everybody up. We're all distraught," said Scott Root, conservation outreach manager at the Utah wildlife agency. "It could put a lot of fear in the public."

Utah is not known to have any grizzly bears, which have attacked and killed people in the northern Rockies.

American Fork Canyon is a popular camping destination. Harris said the family was camping about two miles up a dirt road from a popular campground.

It was not known what provoked the bear, though bears can smell food for miles.

"They stick their nose in the air. It's like radar," said Hal Black, a biologist at Brigham Young University in Provo.

In July 2006, a black bear bit the arm of a 14-year-old Boy Scout while he slept in a tent, also in Utah County. The female bear returned to the campground and was killed. The boy was not seriously injured.

Blame the bear for being a bear?

People should stay at home if they expect no danger in the wilderness.

Killing the bear was terrible.

[dmk3]

well said. too bad for the little boy though.

[closethippy]

In a situation like this reverse psychology can do wonders. If you are being dragged by a bear start biting yourself, growling as hard and as loud as you can.
Bears usually go, "What the f'?" and let go of their victims.
Teach your children this method by practicing with them at home, you'll be doing them a great favor!

[kdk343]

Blame a human for being a human?

Bears should stay out of campgrounds.

Killing the boy was terrible!!!

[mitch0927]

jinjimbob,

Sadly, I agree with you. We are trespassing on their territory and should take all precautions. But with stories like this, we all come up with the "should ofs" and "could haves".....I do pray for the family and wish to pass on my condolences to them for their loss. This will be a lesson to all parents who want to cam out in an area where bears are.

[harp1963]

This is exactly why I take my .44 magnum when hiking or camping in the woods with my kids.

[kdk343]

"reverse psychology" "growling as loud as you can" You have got to be joking.

[cryonbrian]

Everyone's wants to be a cowboy!

[autumnluv]

Human beings need to realize that they are going out into the wild and there are no protective fences or barriers that won't allow bears or other wildlife to enter their camping area. It's not the zoo.

No matter how hard you try, you can NOT tell a bear to stay out of certain areas of the woods. Sorry. They are not going to listen.

Unfortunately, killing the bear would probably have been necessary for two reasons. One, it will appease the public because Lord knows, there's only one black bear in the wild willing to kill a human when it's hungry....*cough*

And two, wild animals tend to condition themselves to whether or not certain things are ok to do...killing a human is one of them. If they get the taste for it, there's a chance that they may do it again. I may be wrong about that but....

[railham]

A terrible tragedy....but don't blame the bear for being a bear.
When you decide to camp ( and bring lots of great smelling food with you) in a known bear habitat unfortunately, this is the chance that you take.
I can never figure out the idiots that think feeding the bears potato chips and peanut butter is a cute thing to do, and then wonder why bears associate humans with food.

[railham]

A terrible tragedy....but don't blame the bear for being a bear.
When you decide to camp ( and bring lots of great smelling food with you) in a known bear habitat unfortunately, this is the chance that you take.
I can never figure out the idiots that think feeding the bears potato chips and peanut butter is a cute thing to do, and then wonder why bears associate humans with food.

[jydavis1]

they should extend bear hunting season in Utah so stuff like this wouldn't happen

[jydavis1]

they should extend bear hunting season in Utah so stuff like this wouldn't happen

[toolmangler-2009]

Remember, "Forest fires prevent Bears"

[blackbug99]

"An Eye for an Eye," I guess it's the new first law of camping. I bet all the other bears will learn from this one's mistake.

[jydavis1]

yes-its important to kill one of there cubs so they know you mean business

[pattim6]

This is a horrible tragedy. But unfortunately, when you are out camping in the woods you are in the bear's environment - not your own. I don't think shooting the bear and then hunting it down and destroying it will stop this from ever happening again. It was doing what comes naturally to it.

[bobgee_1999]

As far as taking a gun into the wilds, I always do too, but not for wildlife. I've had enough run-ins with Rambo wannabes in the back of beyond to be wary, though usually that type never gets to the real wild places anyway. As for bears? Not much anyone could have done about it; these things happen. Nobody besides the kid ever even saw the bear, so if dad had been toting a tactical nuke it wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever. I seriously doubt the family was at fault, either, other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time---if there had been anything left out to eat, the bear probably would have gone for that instead of live prey. I sympathize with the drought-starved bear, but we might as well be prepared for this in the coming years, the more we screw up the environment and overpopulate every square inch, the more this is going to occur.

[vstsimon]

I know that Polar Bears have the ability to sleep walk as they walk toward their prey. Does anyone know if Black Bears do the same thing? I'll bet they don't, but man that would really blow to get eaten by a bear who's asleep.

-Vincent
http://visitvincent.blogspot.com/

[a-ji]

I feel sorry for the family for loosing on eof their loved ones. But I'm not in favor of hunting and killing the bear. We humans cross their territory and we do often pay the price. Sad story, but please don't kill the bear.

[vstsimon]

I know that Polar Bears have the ability to sleep walk as they hunt seals. Does anyone know if Black Bears do the same thing when hunting prey? I'll bet they don't, but man that would really blow to get eaten by a bear who's asleep.

-Vincent
visitvincent.blogspot.com

[artlabido]

We should declair a WAR on Bears. If these bears aren't with us, they are against us! We should send in the military to stabalize the region.

[mikcondon]

This 'Boy Killed By Black Bear In Utah' is truly a sad occurance.
I've read several accounts of other animals
attacking people and wonder why this is happening.
While many are concerned about the effect of mercury on human cerebral developement, and the companies who might be impacted spend considerable funds denying any link, I wonder if wild aniamls can exhibit behavior comparable to attention deficit disorder or other aberrant behaviors associated with elevated levels of mercury.

In WV the trout in our streams can only be eaten once a month, due to mercury levels.
Bears are known to fish and often eat preditor fish like trout and salmon, which build up mercury levels in their flesh.....

[vstsimon]

I know that Polar Bears have the ability to sleep walk as they hunt seals. Does anyone know if Black Bears do the same thing when hunting prey? I'll bet they don't, but man that would really blow to get eaten by a bear who's asleep.

-Vincent
visitvincent.blogspot.com

[mikcondon]

This 'Boy Killed By Black Bear In Utah' is truly a sad occurance.
I've read several accounts of other animals
attacking people and wonder why this is happening.
While many are concerned about the effect of mercury on human cerebral developement, and the companies who might be impacted spend considerable funds denying any link, I wonder if wild aniamls can exhibit behavior comparable to attention deficit disorder or other aberrant behaviors associated with elevated levels of mercury.

In WV the trout in our streams can only be eaten once a month, due to mercury levels.
Bears are known to fish and often eat preditor fish like trout and salmon, which build up mercury levels in their flesh.....

[dogsoul]

"I don't think shooting the bear and then hunting it down and destroying it will stop this from ever happening again. It was doing what comes naturally to it. "

Part of the reason this is so rare is because they track down & kill animals that hunt people... it's got to be done - now before we get all the sappy animal lovin' liberals in a hoot - we ALL know it's not the bear's "fault", there's no such thing as fault with animals... it's not a matter of fault - it's not a matter of corporations - or George Bush - or anything anyone did wrong - it's simply a matter of a bear going after dangerous prey - and paying the price for it...

It's rare, but it happens

[mjm117]

now before we get all the sappy animal lovin' liberals in a hoot -

Dogsoul - Way to turn a horrible tragedy into a political statement. Classy.

[hmmagain]

' ... most folk in eternity are too preoccupied to notice that there is an infinte number of governments, and most who notices don't care, and most who care don't dare, and most who dare don't care and most who care are overworked and underpaid, and most who aren't don't care, and most who care are getting more far more fast than anyone, yet getting nowhere at all ... '

[dmk3]

vstsimom,
that is not funny............

[jimibear]

Erm ... I think Dogsoul was doing the exact opposite of making it into a political statement, mjm117. Perhaps you should read his statement again? He wasn't saying anything other than that the bear is a dangerous example of the species (note they said this never happened before - a fatal black bear attack in Utah, I mean) and that, essentially, the bear was a predator who picked the wrong prey.

I understand that the bear was only doing what came naturally to it. And, in turn, what comes naturally to us as humans is to protect our young. This bear is a mankiller, and uncharacteristic of its species in that sense. It could do the same thing again. I believe in protecting animals, but not at the expense of endangering humans.

[mjm117]

jimibear - I understood that aspect of his posting.

[jimibear]

"Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe the kid mocked a prophet or something. 2 Kings 2:23-24 (KJV)
Posted by cneron at 03:58 PM : Jun 18, 2007
+ report abuse"

Hee hee ... yeah, I heard he drew a cartoon of Smokey, and had it autographed by Salman Rushdie. Which, of course, totally justified the bear's actions ... :-P

And the "being eaten by a bear who was asleep" was, indeed, funny. Come on! It was hilarious, in a Jack Handy kind of way.

[mike71067]

I heard that most fatal black bear attacks are predatory, not defensive. Sort of blows the whole "nuts and berries" diet thing out of the water. We occasionally see black bears in our yard, but we never thought it was any big deal since they typically do not eat people.

[gmond]

I have an insane fear of bears. I will never understand why anyone goes camping. Bears can have the woods, I will stay with four walls way up high where bears can't get me.

[jimibear]

I see what you mean as I re-read, mjm117. He did get on the "animal lovin' liberals" ... I took that more as a joke, but then I am sleep-deprived and over-caffeinated, so what do I know?

[jimibear]

"I've read several accounts of other animals
attacking people and wonder why this is happening.
While many are concerned about the effect of mercury on human cerebral developement, and the companies who might be impacted spend considerable funds denying any link, I wonder if wild aniamls can exhibit behavior comparable to attention deficit disorder or other aberrant behaviors associated with elevated levels of mercury."

I guess it's possible, mikcondon, but I really think you are over-analyzing. We're just meat to animals. We don't get special treatment. I don't think you'd think twice if it was a deer that got eaten.

[dmk3]

thanks jimibear.........:)i didn't want to be the first to say it. there you are the insensitve bad guy. i set you up:)

[jimibear]

"In a situation like this reverse psychology can do wonders. If you are being dragged by a bear start biting yourself, growling as hard and as loud as you can.
Bears usually go, "What the f'?" and let go of their victims.
Teach your children this method by practicing with them at home, you'll be doing them a great favor!"

- closethippy

closethippy, there's a lot of good acid in that closet with you, isn't there... ;-)

[jimibear]

"thanks jimibear.........:)i didn't want to be the first to say it. there you are the insensitve bad guy. i set you up:)
Posted by dmk3 at 04:58 PM : Jun 18, 2007
+ report abuse"

Thanks! I take it kindly; kind of like you were Pippen to my Jordan. ;-)

I do think this is a very sad thing, but at the same time, I think that laughing at things is one way to take the edge off. I don't think it implies disrespect for the child or the family.

[dmk3]

jimibear,
you here all week? where do i get tickets. (talking to jimibear not someone who wants to spew their self rightousness all over me!)regarding your reply to closethippy.

[three-o-six]

I have the best bear repellant made - allways have near by when i am hiking or camping -- It is called a .44Magnum. Works wonders. (OK maybe a .50cal would be better)

[hunnidew]

should never kill the bear. humans can't have everything, we need to leave some space for other animals. we need to have fears.

[three-o-six]

Well hunnidew you can let the bear eat you next time one comes around -- for me -- I Kill it i can

[dmk3]

hunnidew,
the bear was in HIS space!

[thgdriver]

To each his own I always say. I could never figure out what people see in leaving a home with all the convenience's and go to the woods to sleep in a tent. There are woods right behind my home that the neighborhood kids use to rough it in all the time. Gets too rough and all they need to do is cross the street and go home. Ain't no bears to eat you that's for sure. Unless one escaped from a traveling circus.

[boston1954]

"An Eye for an Eye," I guess it's the new first law of camping. I bet all the other bears will learn from this one's mistake.
Posted by Blackbug99 at 03:43 PM : Jun 18, 2007

yes-its important to kill one of there cubs so they know you mean business
Posted by jydavis1 at 03:51 PM : Jun 18, 2007


ARE YOU FROM THIS PLANET???!!!!

[emaginechild]

Is all we have to go on circumstantial evidence, and a dead bear presumed to be the killer??

It's like locking up someone for a crime, innocent or not, because %u201Cthe law always gets their guy.%u201D Except the human gets a case hearing, this bear just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Case solved.

Does encroachment count for anything? Do bears have no rights for living in their environment?

My point is this. At the rate we are growing as a population, half of the other species on earth will be exterminated in the next 50 years.

[taylpatr]

It's a wonder this hasn't happened more in Utah, especially along the Wasatch Front. The population boom in the area has impacted the mountains and the wild life in a most negative way, yet every time I go down there, I see the housing developements moving further up the mountains each time.It's become a very densley populated area.And every time I think about the big earthquake that's long overdue to the area, a bear is alot less scary.

[sjmiller05]

Pathetic humans. If a human dragged a kid out of his tent and ate him would they hunt he/she down and kill him/her? Hell Know!! But they should!! I think that people should treat criminals like they do animals -- there would be a hell of a lot less crime in the world. It is amazing that their has to be laws created to protect humans from themselves.

[blackbug99]

LOL, Humans, the only animal on the planet that doesn't think it belongs in the food chain. How ironic.