GATLINBURG, Tenn. — A bear has been euthanized after it tore into a tent where a family was sleeping, scratching a mother and her daughter who were camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, park officials told WLOS.
Wildlife biologists and park rangers responded to the Elkmont Campground in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area on Sunday for reports of a bear that ripped into a tent where a family of five was sleeping. Officials said the family was camping there when a black bear ripped into the tent just before 5:30 a.m.
After getting inside of the tent, the bear scratched a 3-year-old girl and her mother, authorities said. After several tries, the father was able to scare the bear from the tent and campsite.
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Investigators said the family left a note at the campground office to report the incident and left to get medical help. Both the mom and daughter were scratched on their heads and both are expected to recover, officials said.
The campground hosts told park officials about the incident about 3 and a half hours later. The rangers closed the immediate area, interviewed the father along with other campers, and collected information, including bear tracks, to help identify the bear.
After setting traps in the area, crews saw a bear matching the description of the one they were looking for enter the same campsite where the incident happened. The bear showed “extreme food-conditioned behavior and lack of fear of humans, boldly entering the trap without wariness,” the National Park Service said in a news release.
“The bear weighed approximately 350 pounds, which is not standard for this time of year, suggesting the bear had previous and likely consistent access to non-natural food sources,” Lisa McInnis, Chief of Resource Management told WLOS. “In this incident, the bear was likely attracted to food smells throughout the area, including dog food at the involved campsite. It is very difficult to deter this learned behavior and, as in this case, the result can lead to an unacceptable risk to people.”
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Officials said they humanely euthanized the bear on Monday because of the risk it presented to human safety, WLOS reported. While the bear’s behavior didn’t appear to be predatory, it seemed to be food-conditioned, officials said.
Human-bear conflicts peak in late May and June when natural foods, like berries, are not yet available, park officials said.
Campers should properly follow food storage regulations while in bear country. Park staff will continue to track reports of bear activity in campgrounds and other busy locations and notify the public regarding any site warnings or closures.
Though rare, bears can attack humans. If attacked by a black bear, rangers strongly recommend fighting back with any object available and remember that the bear may see you as prey.
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