Boy Killed By Black Bear In Utah
Wildlife Officers Kill Animal They Believe Was Responsible For Pulling 11-Year-Old From Tent
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Chad Shimmin of the Utah Wildlife Resources tries to pick up a signal of tracking dogs during search for a bear in American Fork Canyon Monday, June 18, 2007. The bear was caught and fatally wounded. (AP)
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Lt. Dennis Harris of the Utah County Sheriff's Office (KUTV)
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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.
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See all 73 CommentsMy heart goes out to the family of the young boy recently mauled by a black bear.
Let's take the precautions necessary - for example, make sure your flashlight works!
Let's take the precautions necessary - for example, make sure your flashlight works!
Posted by thgdriver at 08:33 PM : Jun 18, 2007
You must not be familiar with radio tracking...
They had radio collars on the dogs so they wouldn't lose them....
Posted by kaiyo4u
Yeah well if he'd turn around he'd see the dog is right behind him.
-Posted by newster1 at 02:19 AM : Jun 19, 2007
Experienced hunters have been killed by bears. Incidentally, speaking of inexperienced city slickers, MSNBC has this same article, accompanied by a picture of a brown bear. I never had much respect for the liberal news media, due to their leftward slant, among other things. Now I can add "stupidity" to the list of reasons why I hate them.
-Posted by FeelFree1 at 01:53 AM : Jun 19, 2007
Thanks for confirming all the negative stereotypes of the American left. All stereotypes originate from something authentic, as we see here.
Probably another bunch of city slickers whose most recent contact with wildlife was armchair viewing "Mutual of Omaha's wild kingdom" re-runs, they got into their Coleman. tents and the rest is history.
I guess it's the campground thing whether it be state or federal that lulls people into a false sense of security... It is tragic that a child died as a result of it.
Posted by thgdriver at 08:33 PM : Jun 18, 2007
You must not be familiar with radio tracking...
They had radio collars on the dogs so they wouldn't lose them... They have been known to go for miles and miles on a scent trail. Your dogs get out of earshot, you worry.
If you shoot one, you better be good. If thy find out about it you might be in trouble....
(imagine misspelling intellectual)
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