Appalachian Trail in Stokes State Forest closed as state officials search for bear that attacked two boys
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■Two boys injured in bear attack at Stokes State Forest
Herald Staff Report
The Appalachian Trail through Stokes State Forest and all connecting trails were closed Wednesday as state game officials tried to track down a bear that attacked two boys who were camping near the trail.
The bear ran off after it was shot in the neck by a state Division of Fish and Game Wildlife officer following the 5 a.m. attack.
The two boys, one age 11 from Brooklyn, N.Y., and one age 12 from Jersey City, were part of a group of nine juveniles and two counselors who were camping in the Gren Anderson section of the forest, state officials said.
Vin Meeks of the Montague-based youth organization Trail Blazers told investigating officers that a black bear entered the campsite about 5 a.m. Wednesday while the campers were sleeping. The bear first went to a tent and grabbed a child’s foot in an attempt to pull him out of the tent. This effort proved unsuccessful, and the boy sustained a minor injury to his left foot. The bear then went to a second tent and collapsed it.
After the tent collapsed, the bear swiped at the second boy, causing a minor injury to the boy’s right shoulder.
The pair of incidents lasted about 15 minutes, police said.
The boys sustained superficial wounds, police said.
When Officer Joe Burke from the state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife arrived, the bear was still at the campsite and didn’t seem to be affected by his presence. Burke shot the bear in the neck.
The bear left the scene but returned again and continued “tearing through the camp.”
Before officers arrived, Meeks gathered all the children and took them into a half-enclosed cabin. The campers made as much noise as they could in an attempt to scare the bear away.
Lawrence Hanja, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the DEP Bear Response Team, Division of Fish and Wildlife, State Park Police, State Police, officials from the DEP Division of Parks and Forestry, are involved in the search for the bear, which he said is a yearling. A bloodhound is also assisting.
“The bear was probably looking for food,” he said.
Related Articles:
■Two boys injured in bear attack at Stokes State Forest
Herald Staff Report
The Appalachian Trail through Stokes State Forest and all connecting trails were closed Wednesday as state game officials tried to track down a bear that attacked two boys who were camping near the trail.
The bear ran off after it was shot in the neck by a state Division of Fish and Game Wildlife officer following the 5 a.m. attack.
The two boys, one age 11 from Brooklyn, N.Y., and one age 12 from Jersey City, were part of a group of nine juveniles and two counselors who were camping in the Gren Anderson section of the forest, state officials said.
Vin Meeks of the Montague-based youth organization Trail Blazers told investigating officers that a black bear entered the campsite about 5 a.m. Wednesday while the campers were sleeping. The bear first went to a tent and grabbed a child’s foot in an attempt to pull him out of the tent. This effort proved unsuccessful, and the boy sustained a minor injury to his left foot. The bear then went to a second tent and collapsed it.
After the tent collapsed, the bear swiped at the second boy, causing a minor injury to the boy’s right shoulder.
The pair of incidents lasted about 15 minutes, police said.
The boys sustained superficial wounds, police said.
When Officer Joe Burke from the state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife arrived, the bear was still at the campsite and didn’t seem to be affected by his presence. Burke shot the bear in the neck.
The bear left the scene but returned again and continued “tearing through the camp.”
Before officers arrived, Meeks gathered all the children and took them into a half-enclosed cabin. The campers made as much noise as they could in an attempt to scare the bear away.
Lawrence Hanja, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the DEP Bear Response Team, Division of Fish and Wildlife, State Park Police, State Police, officials from the DEP Division of Parks and Forestry, are involved in the search for the bear, which he said is a yearling. A bloodhound is also assisting.
“The bear was probably looking for food,” he said.
last time I checked , a bear needs like 40 sq miles of territory. So the potential for interaction is always there. Where is Hardtail 70 on this one?
