Black bear attack, Harriman State Park, NY

[RememberSchiff]

April, 2022

Scout troop was camped in Harriman State Park when around 1:20AM a bear wandered into camp.

According to Scoutmaster, All their food, garbage and cooking gear was properly stored in bear bags hung off the ground, but that wasn't going to stop the bear from looking.

The bear grabbed one sleeping bag and pulled on it. The bear then grabbed another sleeping bag, where scout was sleeping, and also grabbed his lower leg. The scout screamed and kicked the bear and it ran away.

"He had some scrapes and bruises, but other than that he was fine," said scout's mother. "He did have to have rabies shots — nine shots over four days."

The Scoutmaster said the bear did not go far. In fact it returned around 3:30 or 4 a.m. and was poking around in an adjacent camper's site. The adults in the Boy Scout camp made noise and chased the bear away. It was not seen again that night.

The Scouts themselves were all asleep by then.

In a joint statement, the DEC and State Parks Department confirmed the attack happened, then continued:

"The bear's dangerous behavior demonstrated habituation to human presence, persistence seeking food near humans, and a clear threat to human safety."

The statement said that according to the DEC's Black Bear Response Manual, the policy in such cases is to "immediately euthanize the bear."

The statement concluded that on May 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture staff, working with state Parks and the DEC, "captured and humanely euthanized the bear following appropriate protocols."

More at source:

https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/local/2022/05/23/bear-attacks-boy-scout-camping-harriman-state-park/9840606002/

Edited May 23, 2022 by RememberSchiff

[DuctTape]

Sad that previous human use habituated the bear. Bears are creatures of habit, it learned at some point that tents and sleeping bags were an easy food source. Earlier human visitors must have kept food in their tent and/or sleeping bag which provided the bear the opportunities to learn this. Sadly the scouts (who apparently did follow food storage protocols) were the benefactors. Fortunately none were seriously injured. 

[InquisitiveScouter]

A fed animal is a dead animal.

[RememberSchiff]

Maybe there is a scouting conservation service opportunity here with the Dept of Agriculture to warn of another human problem that only YOU can prevent?

Say with a little help from one of their experienced employees or trademark at least, in fact he's an American Black Bear too.

as it says "and wildlife".

My $0.02

 

Edited May 23, 2022 by RememberSchiff

[qwazse]

If I were that scout, I’d ask DEC for the claws that poked my bag!

[skeptic]

The story reminded me of our Philmont Ranger in 1979.  He had a nickname, Bear Bait.  He was sleeping outside while out with a couple other rangers, but he was first year and had been the target of a few jokes.  So, when he felt like someone was trying to roll him over in his bag, he reached up and smacked at who he thought it was, one of the others tormenting him.  The bear did not like getting slapped and proceeded to reciprocate.  Fortunately, the bag was thick enough, and the ranger able to curl up within it; and his screams woke the others nearby who ran the bear off.  But he ended up with some stitches, but otherwise no serious injuries.  And he did not let it send him home.  When we had him, it was his third or fourth summer.

[ALongWalk]

I am sorry for the bear but the scout and his unit are going to have incredible stories to tell as they get older. We had a scout get bitten by a copperhead once while on a camp out. Thankfully it was a dry bite but the scout is the hero of the unit now. Lol. 

[DuctTape]

A few more details here: https://abc7ny.com/bear-attack-cooperstown-harriman-state-park-camping/11885251/

 

"I made a mistake," Ayers said. "I left some of my food in my bag and spilled some on my leg and it was also other people that left a lot of trash around."

[InquisitiveScouter]

[RememberSchiff]

Video shows bear in camp and injury.