A black bear attacked a couple along the Blue Ridge Parkway./Sam Hobbs via NPS
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information from park staff. You can find the update here.
A black bear, possible aggravated by a barking dog that was off leash, inflicted minor injuries on a couple that was enjoying a picnic near the Folk Art Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Parkway officials, who instituted several closures along the ridgeline park in a bid to prevent additional attacks, were trying to track the black bear. If caught, it would be euthanized, a park release said.
The attack happened Wednesday evening. According to the release, the unidentified couple was alerted to the bear's presence by their dog, which ran towards the animal while barking.
"Likely aggravated by the dog, the bear acted defensively toward the dog and the couple," the release said. "Over the next several minutes, there were repeated attacks by the bear while the couple retreated with their dog to the safety of their vehicle.
The couple, whose injuries were not detailed, then drove to an area hospital where they were treated and released.
Area closures that were instituted following the incident included:
- The Mountains to the Sea Trail from the intersection with the parkway visitor center Loop Trail near milepost 384 to Riceville Road Bridge at milepost 382.
- The Folk Art Center Nature Loop Trail and all trails accessed off of Bull Mountain Road.
- Picnicking was also prohibited between the Asheville Visitor Center and adjacent parking areas near parkway milepost 384 to the Haw Creek Overlook near milepost 380.
Park staff was working with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff to capture the bear, and was conducting foot patrols in the immediate area of the attack.
"If the offending bear is captured and positively identified, officials will humanly euthanize the animal per park and NCWRC protocol," the release said.
Park staff reminds visitors that fall on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a key feeding period for bears, as they try to add calories before winter hibernation. Visitors need to practice proper food storage, keeping pets leashed, and viewing wildlife from a distance, the park release said.
Comments
i seriously doubt the bear caused them any injuries,and most likely the the scratches they may cured was from falling running away from it!Ashville area,go figure!
Few commenting here seem to have an idea where this actually happened. I noted that it was within the city limits of Asheville at the Southern Highland Craft Guild's Folk Art Center. This wasn't some remote location out in the middle of nowhere. It's less than a half mile away from several apartment complexes, the Asheville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dollar Tree, McDonald's, Starbuck's, AutoZone, Sonic Drive-In, etc.
https://goo.gl/maps/mqUyYf7toaya4aFn7
This is clearly where people live. It's kind of a unique situation where NPS has control over this small strip of road and some of the surrounding lands. This is closer to the situation when a bear is seen in Pasadena and not like a sighting in GSMNP. This bear could have done the same thing in the parking lot of the Biltmore Estate (just five miles away) or McDonald's and not be subject to any NPS regulations on off-leash dogs. I get that people are romanticizing this area as a "national park" but it's really just an NPS controlled road that bisects national forest and private lands.
Finally someone gets it. So many of the comments here sound like they come from people who think this was in the middle of a remote national park, when it's really in an urban-wildland interface surrounded by lots of housing and retail businesses. I'm frankly wondering why this bear would bother coming to this area looking for food when a dumpster in a restaurant would be a better place to score food.
There are of course quite a few places that have similar issues. Lake Tahoe. Colorado. Flagstaff. Santa Fe. Even Los Angeles County where several cities require bear-resistant trash cans.
This should say :unleashed dog attacks bear on blue ridge parkway"...
I am sorry, but we take our wildlife seriously..Why do these people feel like it's ok to break rules. ALL DOGS N PETS MUST B ON A LEASH. NO FEEDING THE BEARS N WILDLIFE. DO NOT HARASS THE WILDLIFE. The offending humans needs to b fined 500.00 $ because they chose to disobey the rules. This gets our bears euthanized because of human ignorance. They r 1 of the attractors to the park. PLEASE GIVE THEM THEIR SPACE!!!I!!!
No...the bear is just being a bear... why should the bear be punished for people who don't respect their surroundings...
The bear behaved naturally to a perceived threat . The dog also behaved naturally to a perceived threat. Let it be . As.for the people......." Lesson learned . "..........I hope
What are you talking about the couple being euthanized? Your post sounds like a crazed person. There's no reason to euthanize a bear for acting appropriately in its natural environment. The couple that had the dog off leash should at least accept that responsibility.