11 Year Old Boy Killed by Bear

[gonzo]

I heard on the news this morning that an 11 year-old boy was killed by a bear last night while camping in American Fork Canyon. I didn't even know we had bear in the Wasatch until the bear eating a deer post in this forum a few weeks ago.

Boy attacked in tent and killed by black bear near campground
Associated Press

AMERICAN FORK — An 11-year-old boy was attacked and killed by a black bear as he slept in a tent with his family Sunday night, police said.

The family was camping near a campground up American Fork Canyon about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, said Lt. Dennis Harris of the Utah County Sheriff's office.

The boy, his mother, stepfather and a 6-year-old brother were sleeping in a large tent with several sections and the 11-year-old was in a section of the tent by himself, he said.

At about 11 p.m. the boy's stepfather heard a scream and the boy and his sleeping bag were gone from the tent.

A host from the nearby campground contacted police.

"When we got up there we realized, hey, this looks like a bear. The sleeping bag was pulled out of the tent," Harris said.

He said the boy's body was found about 400 yards from the tent in the direction of another campsite where a bear sighting had been reported earlier in the weekend.

Officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Forest Service are hunting for the bear Monday morning using dogs.

"In 28 years of law enforcement this is the first bear attack that I know of in Utah County," Harris said.

The canyon is a popular camping destination and also home to Timpanogos Cave National Monument. The attack occurred near the Timpanooke campground, which is about 12 miles up the canyon. Harris said the family was camping about two miles up a dirt road from that campground.

Pretty scary!

[tanya]

Very Scarey and sad!

[asdf]

Sad story, I have been following it all morning.

There are lots of black bears up there.

[brookiekiller]

Was that bear that attacked that dear in Utah County area as well? Bears usually arn't predators so it makes me wonder if it was the same bear.

[gonzo]

Was that bear that attacked that dear in Utah County area as well? Bears usually arn't predators so it makes me wonder if it was the same bear.

I was wonder that, too. But, the bear in bear that ate the deer in some guy's backyard was down in Woodland Hills (south of Spanish Fork Canyon), and this was in American Fork Canyon. I don't know what a black bear's range is, but that seems like too long of a distance.

[ericchile]

I was just up at Little Deer Creek Campground a week ago..... just around the corner.

What should we do to protect ourselves? Besides the obvious of not sleeping with food, and keeping a clean camp. Would a gun helped at all?

[rockgremlin]

I was just up at Little Deer Creek Campground a week ago..... just around the corner.

What should we do to protect ourselves? Besides the obvious of not sleeping with food, and keeping a clean camp. Would a gun helped at all?

Nothing you can do really. It is extremely rare to be attacked by a black bear. Kind of like getting struck by lightning....it happens, but not so often that you should worry about it. I'm more worried about getting into the more likely auto accident.

[gonzo]

I used to sell bear-sized canister of pepper spray. I never actually tried to use it on a bear, so I can't attest to it's efficacy, but the manufacturer claimed to turn back bears as far as 50 meters away, even with a headwind of 20-30 MPH. Although, in this case I doubt it would have helped since the kid probably never saw the bear coming.

When I was younger I had a neighbor who was attacked by a bear while she was sleeping in her tent trailer. The thing ripped through the canvas wall, and grabbed her by the head. Her grandfather who was on the other end of the trailer heard what was happening, ran outside, and hit the damn thing over the snout with a big 5 D-cell Maglite. After a few hits the bear took off.

[asdf]

When I was younger I had a neighbor who was attacked by a bear while she was sleeping in her tent trailer. The thing ripped through the canvas wall, and grabbed her by the head. Her grandfather who was on the other end of the trailer heard what was happening, ran outside, and hit the damn thing over the snout with a big 5 D-cell Maglite. After a few hits the bear took off.

I heard this story last friday, where were they camping?

[MY T PIMP]

I was wonder that, too. But, the bear in bear that ate the deer in some guy's backyard was down in Woodland Hills (south of Spanish Fork Canyon), and this was in American Fork Canyon. I don't know what a black bear's range is, but that seems like too long of a distance.[/quote]
It's not uncommon for bears to travel that far it could very well be the same bear. And maybe not.

[TreeHugger]

WEll, they think they got the bear: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6168961

However, if there are so many bears up there, how do they know that this is the one?

[shanehadman]

Why are people camping up there if Black Bears are all over?

[JP]

However, if there are so many bears up there, how do they know that this is the one?

Good thing bears can't sue

They'll know when they eventually open it up.

[shlingdawg]

Why are people camping up there if Black Bears are all over?

Hmmm, good point. Why do people continue to drive when there are cars all over the place?

Shit happens and you try to learn from it. We can all speculate about an open bag of Doritos or a Subway pastrami on wheat bread laying next to the kid.

It's an unfortunate occurance. Won't keep me away.

[asdf]

We can all speculate about an open bag of Doritos or a Subway pastrami on wheat bread laying next to the kid.

its fairly common knowledge that bears do like wheat bread.

[rockgremlin]

We can all speculate about an open bag of Doritos or a Subway pastrami on wheat bread laying next to the kid.

its fairly common knowledge that bears do like wheat bread.

Apparently, they like 11-yr-old boys better...

[Glockguy]

LMAO The media is retarded as usual. Chanel 2 had a news headline saying Bear Attack! with a pic of a grizzly.

Anyways condolences to the family. That is a crappy way to end Father's day week-end.

[Gutpiler_Utahn]

Why are people camping up there if Black Bears are all over?

It's not like they're camping inside a bear's den. Sheesh... That's like never getting in any body of water for fear of snapping turtles, sharks, & the like. I feel bad for the kid's family, I really do, but I think the state is doing the proper thing in destroying the trouble animal and letting life go on. Just one more reason to up the number of black bear tags.

[tanya]

I used to sell bear-sized canister of pepper spray. I never actually tried to use it on a bear, so I can't attest to it's efficacy, but the manufacturer claimed to turn back bears as far as 50 meters away, even with a headwind of 20-30 MPH. Although, in this case I doubt it would have helped since the kid probably never saw the bear coming.

When I was younger I had a neighbor who was attacked by a bear while she was sleeping in her tent trailer. The thing ripped through the canvas wall, and grabbed her by the head. Her grandfather who was on the other end of the trailer heard what was happening, ran outside, and hit the damn thing over the snout with a big 5 D-cell Maglite. After a few hits the bear took off.

Bo brings bear spray along when we are hiking after we ran face to face with a mountain lion. I have yet to see a bear though!

[asdf]

Why are people camping up there if Black Bears are all over?

It's not like they're camping inside a bear's den.

Dont forget there were Grizzlies here in utah until 1920's.