A black bear broke into the tent of a family of five camping at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, injuring the mother and her 3-year-old daughter.
The attack happened at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday while the family was asleep. This girl’s father was able to scare off the bear shortly after it scratched her and her mother, which resulted in superficial lacerations on their heads, according to rangers. Their family dog was also in the tent at the time.
“In this incident, the bear was likely attracted to food smells throughout the area, including dog food at the involved campsite,” Chief of Resource Management Lisa McInnis said. “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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By 8:00 a.m., park officials had closed the site and the immediate area until they located the bear. Traps were also set. Rangers observed the bear display “food-conditioned behavior” and watched it enter the trap without fear. This told them that the bear had no fear of humans.
“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,” McInnis said.
Rangers compared the tracks near the attack site and other physical characteristics to identify the bear involved in the attack. As a result, it was euthanized.
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All bears are attracted to the smell of food. Park rangers recommend that food not be brought into the tent to avoid attacks. However, should a black bear attack, they also recommend fighting against the animal.
