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
Again, nearly everyone is fixating on the "rules" that apply to NPS land and losing sight that this was in a populated area and not some idyllic woodlands. Just 100 feet away on private land, the rules would be different and the bear could have been engaged in the same behavior in the parking lot of a nursing home or apartment complex. The state would have come to the same conclusion that the bear was aggressive and should be put down.
Wow...so much animosity towards each other! And stupid comments made. Yes as humans keep flocking and development keeps happening we are taking away our wild lifes natural habitat. Bears are very predatory and when threatened they will attact especially if food is around. However the people picnicking you would think knew better but apparently didn't having their dog off the leash was stupidity on their part and this happened. I see people doing stupid things around these parts all the time. There can be cohabitation between wild life and humans. We humans are the ones that were given the ability to read, reason and be responsible. Not the bear.
That is NOT where it happened. It was out at the Folk Art Center that is out on the BRP. It in NOT in the city limits. That center is run by the same group you are talking about, but a different location!!!
I agree with everything y-p-w said. Most people don't understand the context and complex situation going on between bears and humans in the Asheville area.
If you want to see some bears, drive around Asheville after about 2AM. There'll be bears all up in the dumpsters around town. There's a lot more calories to be had in a human's trash bin than there is in the big woods.
Well just great, we live in North Carolina. I'm going to be very honest, this happens way to much. People don't have there dogs on a leash and when a bear does what Mother Nature programmed to do. A bear pays the price with its life because of not so smart humans.
The Folk Art Center is within the city limits of Asheville. It's right around here (the blue blob represents the city limits). There are various mapping tools that show the city's boundaries, and this is right near the edge of the city limits but still within it.
https://data-avl.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/9fdb214ab6544f65b7493eeb52...
However, that this was within any city limits wasn't my point. This is not some remote location in the boonies like some people seem to think it is. It's an urban-wildlands interface where there's only a small strip of land under NPS jurisdiction, with mixed residential, industrial, and retail for miles and miles. I wouldn't necessarily say that the NPS has arbitrary rules regarding dogs being off-leash and food storage, but this was clearly in a populated area next to a nursing home, apartments, and the VA hospital. It's also less than a mile from I-40.
Here's a fun article on Asheville's boundaries. The article include a map overlaying the municipal, postal, and school district boundaries.
I consider myself an expert on bears albeit primarily grizzly bears. It appears the couple broke at least two maxims in bear territory, no loose dogs and a picnic. I hope the couple is fined for breaking the law and letting their dog loose. And it doesn't take a huge leap of logic to deduce they tried to save their picnic and took it with them. The proof,... the bear would have broke off the attack immediately to investigate the food, not continued to attack them.
True justice would have us give the bear a second chance. Please do not kill the bear.
The Bear is not the problem, people are. Bear was minding its own business and some irresponsible, rule breaking degenerates allowed their dog off the leash. The dog followed its instincts and isn't at fault neither. It is not a problem bear, only defended itself, and should be left alone not murdered.