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 CommentsPeople should stay at home if they expect no danger in the wilderness.
Killing the bear was terrible.
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!
Bears should stay out of campgrounds.
Killing the boy was terrible!!!
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.
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....
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.
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.
-Vincent
http://visitvincent.blogspot.com/
-Vincent
visitvincent.blogspot.com
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.....
-Vincent
visitvincent.blogspot.com
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.....
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
Dogsoul - Way to turn a horrible tragedy into a political statement. Classy.
that is not funny............
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.
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.
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.
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... ;-)
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.
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.
the bear was in HIS space!
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???!!!!
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.
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