Red River Gorge Black Bear Attack Video/Photo [UPDATED 8-03]

[Greg Stamper]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FACEBOOK- THE BLACK BEAR OF BEATTYVILLE:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001278803356
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: August 3, 2010
The Return of Black Bears to Kentucky
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/03/1374 ... undup.html

Posted: August 3, 2010
7 bears killed by vehicles in Kentucky (note speed of the bear in story)
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/01/1372 ... es-in.html

Posted: Jul 10, 2010
Small animals cause most nuisance complaints
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... complaints

Posted: Jul 7, 2010 - 12:03 am
Another possible sighting of bear that attacked hiker
Story with VIDEO:
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97895494.html

Cincinnati.Com Updated: 9:49 am Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Trash bin under surveillance for bear that attacked Red River Gorge hiker
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 307070047/

Wednesday, Jul. 07, 2010
Sought-after black bear spotted
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/07/07/1338 ... otted.html

Posted: Jul 6, 2010 - 5:00pm ET
Officials May Have Bear Who Attacked Man Cornered
http://www.lex18.com/news/update-offici ... -cornered/
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/07/06/1338 ... otted.html
VIDEO:
http://www.lex18.com/player/?video_id=7830

Posted: Jul 6, 2010
Wildlife officials urge caution while camping at Red River Gorge
Posted on July 6th, 2010 in Animals and wildlife
Wildlife officials urge caution while camping at Red River Gorge
WHAS11- The Red River Gorge area has re-opened after a bear attack last weekend but officials are urging caution for anyone camping there.
Wildlife officials had been searching the area for a Black Bear that attacked a camper there Sunday. The bear was last spotted in nearby Lee County
miles away from the area so officials have opened the park back up for the holiday weekend.
http://www.easyclik.com/wildlife-offici ... ver-gorge/

Posted: Jul 6, 2010
Surviving, then describing, bout with a bear
Springfield resident recounts struggle in Red River Gorge
By Jeff Moreland
Landmark News Service
Tim Scott is an experienced hiker but he experienced something unexpected when he was attacked by a black bear along a trail in the Red River Gorge.
Scott (56) experienced Kentucky's first recorded attack by a bear on a person in modern times, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Springfield man was hiking along the Grays Arch trail near the Wolfe-Menifee county lines in eastern Kentucky around 2:30 pm last Sunday.
He had his dog on a leash and briefly became separated from his wife and son who are photographers.
[Read more:]
http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/cgi-bi ... 2053053026
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: 9:24 PM Jul 5, 2010
Black bear from Red River Gorge attack still on the loose
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials say there have been no additional sightings of the bear this holiday weekend.

A black bear that attacked a hiker in the Red River Gorge more than a week ago is still on the loose.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials say there have been no additional sightings of the bear this holiday weekend.
The last confirmed bear sighting happened last Wednesday in Lee County about 20 miles from the scene of the attack.
A woman also reported seeing a black bear in Owsley County on Friday.
Authorities investigated the sighting but didn't find anything.
http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/97823599.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
USFS News Release- Red River Gorge to Reopen Friday, July 2nd at 8:00am ET
For Immediate Release
Red River Gorge reopened, food storage order issued
WINCHESTER, Ky, July 1, 2010- Forest Supervisor Frank Beum of the Daniel Boone National Forest announced that the
Red River Gorge Geological Area will reopen on Friday, July 2 beginning at 8 a.m.
The gorge was temporary closed last Sunday after a hiker was attacked by a black bear along the Pinch-Em Tight Trail.
The emergency closure was issued in the interest of public safety.
The Natural Bridge State Resort Park will reopen hiking trails on Friday morning at the same time. While the lodge,
sky lift, and bridge remained open, the park took precautionary steps by closing all of its trails.
[Read Much More in particular the Food Storage Order]:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/newsroom/ ... pens.shtml
**NOTE: Violation of the Food Storage Restriction Order can be punishable by a Fine of up to $5,000 or six-months in jail.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WKYT-27 Food Order Video:
http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/97702179.html
FOX 41 Video:
http://www.fox41.com/Global/story.asp?S=12747675
Red River Gorge reopens while search for bear continues
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/07/03/1333 ... earch.html
Bear spotted in Owsley County?
http://www.lex18.com/news/bear-search-moves-again/
Gorge Opens -- with Bear Joke:
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4166-gorge-reopens
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUMEROUS CARTOON: HOW TO AVOID A BEAR ATTACK
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/20 ... on-version
& here
http://www.howcast.com/videos/100020-Ho ... ear-Attack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials Say They'll Re-Open The Red River Gorge Friday
http://www.lex18.com/player/?video_id=7 ... egories=56
http://www.lex18.com/news/officials-say ... ge-friday/
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97596964.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/07/01/1332 ... ounty.html
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4148-rehabber- ... lack-bears
http://www.whas11.com/news/Red-River-Go ... 20889.html
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... instituted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
USFS News Release:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/law/12_04 ... sure.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIDEO: GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS PODCAST- WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MEET A BLACK BEAR
http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/h ... dlife.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
[JULY 1st, 2010]:
http://www.lex18.com/player/?video_id=7 ... egories=56
http://www.lex18.com/news/officials-dis ... y-weekend/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38039348/ns ... xington_ky
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97596964.html
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97279954.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIDEO Links:
OFFICIALS MAY BE CLOSE TO FINDING BEAR THAT ATTACKED HIKER-
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4127-bear-raid ... e-dumpster
http://www.lex18.com/news/officials-may ... ked-hiker/
http://www.lex18.com/player/?video_id=7700

SPECIAL VIDEOS: Hiker tells his story:
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97362284.html
http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Black- ... 85459.html
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4130-bear-atta ... im-speaks-

http://www.lex18.com/player/?video_id=7677
http://www.lex18.com/player/?video_id=7 ... egories=56
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97279954.html
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4105-search-co ... lack-bear-
http://www.whas11.com/news/Red-River-Go ... 50244.html
http://www.whas11.com/home/Parts-of-Red ... 28794.html
http://www.wlwt.com/news/24079021/detail.html

SHOULD THE BEAR BE EUTHANIZED?:
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4116-should-th ... uthanized-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles with PHOTOS:
http://wildindiana.com/wps/2010/06/indi ... ck-victim/
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/30/1330 ... d-day.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/30/1328 ... black.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/29/1327 ... ttack.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/28/1 ... orded.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... 0106290351
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/natio ... 04344.html
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... iver+Gorge
http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/97492634.html
http://themoreheadnews.com/localsports/ ... gical-Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/30 Afternoon UPDATE:
Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife confirm the black bear they've been searching for since a hiker was attacked Sunday in the Red River Gorge may have been spotted Wednesday morning in city limits in Beattyville in Lee County. The bear was reportedly near some dumpsters. We're told officials confirmed from the tracks that it likely is the bear in question.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97279954.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black bear that attacked hiker in Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky still at large
A black bear that attacked a hiker in the Daniel Boone National Forest remains on the loose
Associated Press June 29, 2010

State tourism spokeswoman Barbara Atwood said Tuesday afternoon that wildlife officers haven't been able to find the animal that mauled Tim Scott of Springfield on Sunday in a remote area known as the Red River Gorge near Stanton in eastern Kentucky.
The 56-year-old Scott survived the attack and was released from a Lexington hospital on Monday.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources says the incident Sunday was the first recorded bear attack on a person in the state.
Wildlife Division Director Karen Waldrop said the agency's policy is to kill any bear that behaves aggressively toward humans. Officers have closed the area and set traps to try to capture the animal.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... 1002/rss07
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOX News:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/28/ma ... ch-animal/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
USFS Black Bear Safety:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/safety/cr ... safe.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ky Department of Fish and Wildlife- If you Encounter a Bear:
http://fw.ky.gov/blackbearencounter.asp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
KyWilderness Forum Link:
http://www.kywilderness.com/forum/index ... pic=4431.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
North American Bear Center website:
http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/ ... umans.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: Jun 28, 2010 3:36 PM
Updated: Jun 28, 2010 6:07 PM
More than a dozen wildlife and law enforcement officers continued Monday to actively search for a black bear that attacked a hiker Sunday afternoon in the Red River Gorge Geological Area north of Campton.
Springfield resident Tim Scott, 56, reported that he was attacked by a bear as he hiked with his dog along the trail to Grays Arch near the Wolfe-Menifee county line around 2:30 p.m. Scott, who was clawed across his chest and suffered bite wounds to both legs, was treated for his injuries at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. He was released from the hospital Monday.
Sundays incident is the only known bear attack on a person in Kentucky in modern times.
Read More:
http://www.lex18.com/news/officials-con ... cked-hiker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In response to the black bear attack the Forest Service has temporarily closed the Red River Gorge Gorge Geologic Area. This affects all Red River Gorge proper crags except those located in the Indian Creek drainage plus Long Wall, Fortress Wall, and Phantasia that remain open. Crags affected by the closure include, but are not limited to - Funk ... See More Rock City, Wall of Denial, Sky Bridge Ridge, the Small Walls, Frenchburg Overhangs, Military Wall, Left Flank, and Raven Rock.
http://rrgcc.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/RRGCC/93379902747
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bear attacks hiker in Red River Gorge
June 28, 2010 - 02:22 PM
2010/The Herald-Dispatch
Herald-Dispatch.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. Associated Press- A hiker who was attacked by a black bear in eastern Kentucky has been released from the hospital, and officials have closed Red River Gorge while they try to find the bear. Gorge spokeswoman Kimberly J. Morgan says the Springfield man was taken to a nearby hospital after the attack Sunday afternoon then transferred to University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was kept overnight.
Morgan says the man, in his mid-50s, had some pretty serious wounds.
Officials haven't released the identity of the man who was hiking with his wife and son. Morgan says its believed the bear is aggressive.
She says experts have set traps that won't harm the animal but will catch him to prevent further attacks. The hiker told officials he did nothing to provoke the bear.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/bri ... iver-Gorge
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, Jun. 28, 2010
Red River Gorge is closed after bear attack
By Josh Kegley and Dori Hjalmarson - jkegley@herald-leader.com

The Red River Gorge area in Daniel Boone National Forest is closed until further notice because of an attack by a black bear Sunday.
Officials have not released the hiker's name or discussed the extent of his injuries.
The man, said to be in his mid-50s, was hiking with his wife and son on Pinch-Em-Tight Trail on Sunday when a black bear approached and attacked unprovoked, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Kimberly Morgan said. The man, a Springfield resident, was taken to a hospital in Irvine and later to University of Kentucky Hospital.
State wildlife officials are setting traps in the area to capture the bear, and until they have caught it or know that it has left the area, the Red River Gorge recreation area will be closed, Morgan said.
"For this bear to have attacked, it's an aggressive bear," she said.
The closed area includes all National Forest System lands north of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to U.S. Highway 460 in Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties.
Anyone who sees a black bear in the Red River Gorge area is urged to call 1-800-252-5378
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/28/1327 ... ttack.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wildlife officials are on the hunt Monday for a bear that attacked a man. The victim encountered the bear while hiking near Grays Bridge in Wolfe County Sunday. Official are warning others in the area to be extra careful while they try to track the bear down.

Gates are closed around Red River Gorge and Park rangers have the entrances closed for safety as search crews look for the bear. Officials with the Daniel Boone National Forest say park rangers worked to evacuate campers and hikers from the Gorge Sunday. As of Monday morning, no one could get into the park. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife had officials in the area looking for the bear.

Campers still in the area, who had to leave their campsite Sunday afternoon say the entire event is usual. "We've been coming up here for about 10 years and you know, last night, they said the bear was actually in this campground, came down this road. For people's safety they closed it off" said Michael Hoagland.

In addition to Red River Gorge being closed, we're also told some trials at Natural Bridge State Park are also closed to the public. It's just across the Mountain Parkway, near where crews are searching for the bear.

Officials have not released the name of the man who was attacked but Officials with the Daniel Boone National Park tell 27 NEWSFIRST the victim has been released from the hospital.
http://www.wtvq.com/news/4100-bear-atta ... ge-closing
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Bear Attack Prompts Temporary Closure Of Red River Gorge Geological Area

The Daniel Boone National Forest issued a temporary emergency closure of the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The closure resulted after a hiker was attacked by a black bear.

The closed area includes all national forest system lands north of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to U.S. Highway 460 in Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties. The area will remain closed until further notice.

Public safety is our highest priority, said Forest Supervisor Frank Beum. We are coordinating this temporary closure with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The officials with that agency will help us determine when the gorge can be reopened to the public.

Anyone who sees a black bear in the Red River Gorge vicinity is encouraged to call 1-800-25-ALERT to report the sighting, said Beum.

For more information about the closure, contact the Cumberland Ranger District at (606) 784-6428 or the Gladie Center at (606) 663-8100.

The attack happened around 2:30 p.m. Sunday along Tunnel Ridge Road. Witnesses tell LEX 18 that a few couples were walking along a trial when one of the men fell behind. When the others turned around to check on him, a black bear was standing in front of him. Witnesses say the man picked up a stick and the bear attacked. The others ran up and began hitting the bear with their backpacks.

The man's leg was mauled and he was taken to the hospital in Irvine. He was later transported to UK Hospital. He was in stable condition at last report.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37979403
http://www.lex18.com/news/black-bear-at ... ical-area/

[Jim Stickley]

Man, do we have some new heroes in the RRG! This is from Anthony Gobel's Facebook page:

Anthony Gobel Close Encounters!! Jessica and I came up upon this black bear while hiking in the wood of Daniel Boone National Forest. I scared him away by taking his picture and boy was he fast. Later in the day we met up with my cousin Mo and her husband Roberto. We hiked about 2 miles into the woods on a well traveled trails and ...a man had encountered the same bear. Only he was not so lucky. We heard him shouting out a name, which later finding out it was his son that we passed earlier on the trail. When we got into sight of the man we saw why he was yelling!! The bear was stocking him for dinner. The man had a stick which was no match for the bear. I saw the bear attack... he lunged on the man and started dragging him into the woods. I had my dog Reign with me handed the leash over to Jessica and then ran over to help this man who was being mauled by the bear. I told Mo to call 911 and I puffed up and yelled as loud as I could and clapped my hands. I wasn't sure if it would work, luckily Mo and Roberto followed suit. It did scare the bear and he did get off of the man but it wasn't quite enough. He went in again grabbing at his ankle trying to drag him farther into the woods. I lunged at him and he backed off again. Then I got in between the man and the bear. The bear was pissed i was getting between him and is dinner. The bear decided that i was going to be next, he lunged at me....
I had a pack on my back with a Nalgene water bottle and some other supplies in hand... I hit him as hard as i could in a over the shoulder downward motion...nailing him right in the face!!!!! He took a step back.. stunned... not sure what just happened. He was reluctant to give up.... He just kept on and each time he started moving close to us me just acting like i'm going to hit him again... The Bear moving in on us and us just backing up the trail... He followed us at a distance of 12 to 15 feet for about half a mile. After the bear turned his back and got some distance between us i took off my belt and put it around the mans leg to act as a tourniquet. Mean while helping the man get back to safety which was the longest 2 miles of my life!!!

I have never been so scared in my life!!!! The gravity of the situation did not really hit me or anyone else until we where back at the road waiting on the ambulance.

I can tell you what i am never going hiking or camping again without a gun!!!

[Kyle Maggard]

per WLEX-18 & WKYT-27
3 people have been jailed for stealing the laminated "Gorge Closed, Bear Symbol" Signs
posted throughout the area. This hampers the ability to inform the public of the danger.


Updated: 1:26 PM Jun 30, 2010
People arrested for stealing bear warning signs
As the search continues for the bear that attacked a hiker Sunday at Red River Gorge, police arrest three people for stealing the signs posted around the Gorge, warning campers about the threat.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97279954.html

[Greg Stamper]

Per WLEX-18 & WKYT-27:
Officials believe that the Bear sighted in the City of Beattyville in Lee County is one in the same.
Could this Bear have traveled 20 miles South in this time?

6/30 Afternoon UPDATE:
Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife confirm the black bear they've been searching for since a hiker was attacked Sunday in the Red River Gorge may have been spotted Wednesday morning in city limits in Beattyville in Lee County. The bear was reportedly near some dumpsters. We're told officials confirmed from the tracks that it likely is the bear in question.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/97279954.html

[Andrew Ray]

All of this info is fine and good, but I will put my trust in a big ass gun. Pepper spray, noise, and posturing might or might not work but a 300 grain 44 magnum bullet at 1500 feet per second is a sure fire deterrent that says leave me alone in very understandable language. And I got more where that one came from!!!!
Andrew

[Andrew Ray]

So with the new food storage rules how will we deal with compliance for our group Greg? This could prove to be a massive undertaking to store all our food in an approved manner for 20 plus people for a week? Do I need to start devising something now to do the job?

[Greg Stamper]

Our RRS ARK complies with the USFS Standards. Our food goes into the ARK overnight
(Once inside, we could place it in another container in order to suppress its 'aromatic' quality).
Garbage must go into the Bear Proof Trash Bins now located at Indian Glen.

NO personal food inside the individual tents whatsoever. Plus, we must secure our Soap, Toothpaste
and other animal based or perfumed hygiene products. I'm sure we can think of some other things so
its good we can talk this out publicly.

Also, something which NO one has brought up yet! The Very Old saying, "Sex Attracts Bears"
... heard this for years. Looked into it ...
here's what I got from Noted Bear Behaviorist and Biologist Stephen Herrero:

"At best, the idea of human sexual activity attracting bears is an unsubstantiated theory based on deep
conjecture. The likelihood of backcountry sex attracting a bear over other attractants is exceedingly small."

[Jim Stickley]

Are we worried about bears? I didn't think so. Our only concern is complying with the law. What I have to say will not be posted publicly due to the fact that it is area specific. I will PM you guys (Greg and Andrew) on this forum.