Hiker vs Black Bear in Kentucky

Mannlicher

Mannlicher

Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
3,400
While a close encounter of the third kind between hiker and black bear is rare, this incident does point out that it can, and did happen. Glad the guy is ok. Bet he wishes he had a better stick, or a bigger knife. ;)
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/28/man-survives-kys-st-known-bear-attack-hikers-help-officials-search-animal/?test=latestnews
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A hiker who was attacked by a black bear in eastern Kentucky said he was about to stab the animal in the eye with his pocket knife when another hiker threw a day pack at the bear and distracted it.

"The bear had a really good chunk of my leg in his mouth and was shaking me," Tim Scott told The Associated Press on Monday, after receiving 50-60 stitches and being released from a hospital.
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I was at red river gorge a few weeks ago, and we didn't see any wildlife, kinda spooky, I don't know what I would have done if one had come up to me, I'm more concerned about the two legged criters these days, glad he alright.....
 
Another case of being underknifed. Not that it would definitely have made a difference in this case, but, I personally would feel much more confident with a larger fixed blade if I was in "attack mode".
Of course, the .45 ACP on my hip would have needed a good cleaning afterward.
Thanks for posting.
 
His last comment made me chuckle...very interesting. I've seen several black bears growing up that were about that size and all of them were very skittish.

Although I do carry a firearm when out, it goes to show that a stout hiking stick would have a been a good deterrent as well. I doubt you'd be carrying any bear spray in Kentucky, but even some two-legged vermin pepper spray would have been effective on the smaller bear.

I'm glad the guy is okay (his wife and son were further down the trail behind him:eek:) and it could have been worse...nice to see he kept his cool in such a bad situation!

ROCK6
 
Troop said:
the .45 ACP on my hip would have needed a good cleaning afterward.
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As would have my BVD's!!!

I used to live not far from the Gorge and hiked/climbed there regularly. I *never* saw bear sign. Ever. It seems remiss on the part of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to me that the bear has not been destroyed - especially given it's lack of fear of humans and it's agressive behavior.

What's it take to remind governing authorities of animals place in the whole food-chain - a dead human child?
 
The article mentions that this is the first encounter of this kind in the State. I don't think one can fault the State of Kentucky for any of the events.

The outdoors is not Disney World, and things can, and do happen. The State cannot protect every hiker from every possibility. Some degree of individual responsibility is required.
 
fmajor007 said:
As would have my BVD's!!!

I used to live not far from the Gorge and hiked/climbed there regularly. I *never* saw bear sign. Ever. It seems remiss on the part of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to me that the bear has not been destroyed - especially given it's lack of fear of humans and it's agressive behavior.

What's it take to remind governing authorities of animals place in the whole food-chain - a dead human child?
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Yup. It takes something that serious for "them" to take proper action. I apologize in advance for getting on my soap box, but, with the current liberal, Leftist influence that's prevalent in today's society, it's only going to get worse.
"Right and Wrong" apparently don't factor into the equation anymore.
 
I'm tracking with you there and i'm not faulting the great Commonwealth of Kentucky for the occurance at all.

Yup, the outdoors is not Disney World and thankfully so. However, that area is a huge draw for people of all sizes and i'm thinking more about subsequent encounters that specimen may have with people. What if other hikers hadn't come along just then? I suspect the story would have had a very different ending.

My critique is that the animal wasn't destroyed (or least relocated) - not that the attack happened. While it may have been the 1st attack in Kentucky, they do have the internet and can probably surmise what other locations have experienced with aggressive predators.
 
I jumped a bear backpacking last Monday. I didn't see him only heard him crashing away but he had apparently been getting a drink in the mudhole on the trail

dshk5.jpg
 
I'm in the 'never even seen a trace of a bear' camp. It's interesting it happened at that location.

Pretty rad that you got so near to one, HD. :D
 
fmajor007 said:
It seems remiss on the part of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to me that the bear has not been destroyed - especially given it's lack of fear of humans and it's agressive behavior.

What's it take to remind governing authorities of animals place in the whole food-chain - a dead human child?
Click to expand...

Troop said:
It takes something that serious for "them" to take proper action. I apologize in advance for getting on my soap box, but, with the current liberal, Leftist influence that's prevalent in today's society, it's only going to get worse.
"Right and Wrong" apparently don't factor into the equation anymore.
Click to expand...

fmajor007 said:
My critique is that the animal wasn't destroyed (or least relocated) - not that the attack happened.
Click to expand...

You can all go back and read the entire article again, or take my word for it, that this is a direct quote from it:

Wildlife Division Director Karen Waldrop said the agency's policy is to kill any bear that behaves aggressively toward humans, and officials have closed the popular scenic area inside the Daniel Boone National Forest and set traps to try to capture the animal.
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Any leftist sentiments expressed there or are we all happy now?
 
its definitely odd for a black bear to be aggressive...they are the more docile of bears. I'm wondering if he could have accidentally gotten between the bear and some cubs or something...

glad to hear he's ok; maybe he'll start carrying a bigger knife with him now...
 
PayetteRucker said:
I think when it comes to bear attack, every case is a case of being 'underknifed'....
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Very true, my friend.
I was just making a comparison.
Quick... a black bear is charging! For whatever reason, you can't run away. Which do you pull out to make your "last stand"?
Your SAK or your 4 or 6" fixed???
 
Esav Benyamin said:
You can all go back and read the entire article again, or take my word for it, that this is a direct quote from it:



Any leftist sentiments expressed there or are we all happy now?
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Don't you ever get tired of being right?
 
I know many "leftists" who would be happy to see that bear turned into a rug in front of somebody's fireplace.

It's bad enough that we have to put up with the ridiculous political stereotyping and closed-minded partisan bashing and name-calling in the politics and current events boards. That sort of drivel has no place here in W&SS.


I'm very happy to see bears becoming established in many of their former territories, and also happy to see any problem animals killed swiftly. I appreciate nature's beauty, but I also appreciate the fact that we put our opposable thumbs to good use to climb to the top of the food chain, and am a big fan of making sure those animals maintain a healthy fear of the scary humans with the big loud boom sticks. I'll admire them as long as they aren't admiring the dinner in my pack.
 
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