Black Bear Mauls 8-Year-Old Boy

(AP)  Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park say a black bear mauled an 8-year-old Florida boy and the boy's father was injured while defending him.

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

Park spokesman Bob Miller says the incident began around 7:30 p.m. Monday when the bear approached Evan Pala of Boca Raton, Florida, while he was playing in a creek. Miller says the bear attacked the boy, was driven off and came back a second time.

Miller says the father was able to drive the bear off with rocks and sticks.

The boy suffered some puncture wounds that were serious but not believed to be life-threatening. The father, John Pala, suffered several cuts during the attack.

[cbsfan73]

stupidrules3 wrote:
"As a matter of fact, the return of these species you talk about is being facilitated by hunters."

So they are simply righting their own wrong?

P.S. I take NC Wildlife Magazine which also supports this.

[stupidrules3]

cbsfan73,
I agree with the reduction of vistors as it has gotten quite out of hand. Having grown up near the Smokies, I too miss the old days when it was not such a destination. Fortunately we are blessed with many other parks and recreation areas to play in. The Smokies are being ruined by the sheer numbers of cars that pass through.
I''m still trying to decide if I like the fee idea as the best means of reducing traffic.

[stupidrules3]

So you are crediting hunters for the animals making a comeback? Wasn''''t it hunters and over population that made them go away in the first place?

Posted by cbsfan73 at 09:50 AM : Aug 13, 2008

As a matter of fact, the return of these species you talk about is being facilitated by hunters. The fees they pay for licenses and specific hunts are directly paying for the conservation efforts and reintroduction of native species that are repopulating the parks. Most of the people that complain so loudly never contribute their money or physical effort to the conservation of natural refuges. They just rend their clothes and cry that someone else should do it.

[greeneyes222]

I gather most of the folks posting on this story have never been here in the mountains. Here''s a tip - don''t y''all come. This isn''t Disney World.

[cbsfan73]

PinonNut asked:
I''''m just wondering if it were a Pit Bull who had mauled the boy in the city would the response be the same???
You city slickers just don''''t get it!!!

Your mud does not stick to the wall. There are leash laws against allowing dogs to run loose in the city. There are no such laws on bears in a National Park.

[pinonnut]

I''m sorry. My previous comment was directed at what I thought were intelligent people. I see now that this has somehow turned into a political issue.

Bears are creatures of habit and opportunistic feeders - if they get food they learn to go back for more. It''s really very simple. People just have to be careful. I am glad I''m not the parent of the 8-year old, or I would be so devastated by the response of people. Anyone who has ever had kids knows you can''t keep an 8-year old boy on a leash.

I''m just wondering if it were a Pit Bull who had mauled the boy in the city would the response be the same???

You city slickers just don''t get it!!!

[cbsfan73]

Hwy71So confessed:
"Actually, animals are stupid and live on instinct and conditioning."

Which makes you a great hunter.

[cbsfan73]

To: Hwy71So

You are a typical Republican. You think the whole world is yours to exploit.

[cbsfan73]

Hwy71So wrote:
"cbsfan, why don''''t you go pet a grizzly and let me know how it turns out..."

I advocate for them to be given refuges to live in peace.

[hwy71so]

cbsfan, why don''t you go pet a grizzly and let me know how it turns out...