Hickory Run SP - BEAR ATTACK !!!!!

[MTNDAVE]

:yikes: Well, it finally happened!!!! Three (3) campers were injured in a bear encounter at HR State Park. The bear assalted the woman and then the 2 men attempted to assist her. All 3 were injured and the lady is still hospitalized.
 
We know the bears at HR are all around but until now have not been a problem to humans directly until now.
 
In defense of the bears. The folks (2 men and a lady) from Philly, were not camping in the campground. They were illegally camping elsewhere in the park.
 
I'm sure the Park Rangers were not too happy about this incident. Although this was more an err of the campers I worry that the "legal" campers and the bears will suffer the most.
 
Let's all be safe out there and practice good camping. Keep that campsite clean and safe.
 
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I forgot to add this earlier.
 
On the television report they just so happened to stand in front of somebody's pop-up while giving the details. Nobody appeared to be home. Anybody up there this weekend???
 
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[HersheyGirl]

I heard about the bear attack on the news...but they did not give any details.  Just that they were camping and from Philly.  Now that is sure telling all of the story, isn't it.  I wonder what they were doing so that a bear would attack them,her.  The news also said that this was the first bear attack in the parks history.  Poor bears.

[MTNDAVE]

Correct, this is the 1st bear attack incident at HR SP.  Sad isn't it.
 
The way the local news portrays it the "human culprits" were camping in an unauthorized area and it sounded as if they may have been fishing (trout season is in full swing).
 
I dare to guess that this may be a food storage/trash issue or remains from cleaning the fish issue.  In conjunction with person(s) who do not know the rules of engagement with bears.
 
If they had only stayed at the "approved" campground they would have received the proper warnings and instruction.
 
My advice to them ----- Learn to camp right or Get a room and order room service.

[copcarguy]

OMG OMG!

Scary stuff...  the first time I had seen a wild bear up-close was at HR on our first COTOC trip well, EVER.  I always kept an empty pot and spoon handy to bang together and scare the bears there away.  I am betting these people were stupid (confirmed by them camping in an unauthorized area)...  I am curious to see what will become of this.  Please keep us posted as we don't get local news from that area...

[tlhdoc]

This is the first time I heard about this too.:yikes:

[MTNDAVE]

I agree Rick,  STOOPID !!!!  These folks just don't belong out there.

In addition to camping I spend a lot of time in the woods both trail hiking, geocaching and bushwacking my way to ghostowns.  I encounter bears pretty often (3 in one day, seperate sightings, last summer).  And as some of you know, even in my back yard.

If you understand a bears rules - and we must play by their rules - all will be well.  Actually it's pretty exciting having an up and close conversation with Yogi from time to time.

[jazman]

Being from South Jersey, where the bears usually have baggy clothes and lots of jewelry, what are the Rule of Engagement(TM) with our woodland ursine friends?

Befuddled,

jazman

[MTNDAVE]

The on going saga on the dumb, dumber and the really stoopid. :screwy:
 
 
Now the REAL truth comes out. The bear did NOT attack them. The bear was spooked and chased them. They all ran away so fast, so far and so hard that all the injuries they received, including the one hospitalized were self inflicted. The poor bear never touched them. Must have been quite a sight.
 
They were all found in different areas. One scrambling thru brush near mud run and another crawling up a bank onto the PA turnpike.
 
I bet YOGI got a big bear laugh outta that. Ha Ha :J

[Kelly]

Just came across (some more) of The Rest Of The Story.

Gotta agree with MtnDave on this one ... these campers weren't too bright![/FONT]

[MTNDAVE]

Kelly,
 
That is a version of the story I had not heard.  The local news did not mention clawing, tearing or biting at all.  I live about 20 mins. from the park and know some of the folks there thru work and there was no mention of actual contact.  Just a lot of panic and running.
 
Regardless, I hope I never run into these "campers" in my journeys.
 
WAIT !!!!!!  I doubt if they will ever leave the concrete jungle again.  If they know what's good for them.

[SheBantam]

I saw the Marty Stauffer Story on TV (so you know it HAS to be accurate), and he and his brother (or another youngster) sang to the bears in a cave when the bears were awokened...the bears went back to sleep long enough for them to make their escape...hope I never have to try that trick, don't think that I could remember a song or tune in those circumstances...

[MTNDAVE]

And HEREis the local paper's report.
 
.... and then there is THIS story.
 
Both of these newspapers are in the same town and near the park.
 
It all makes interesting reading. I wonder how many version of the story will surface.
 
"Them bears in the spaceship landed on my head and ......"

[Adam]

It's seems STD-Speaker reports SP Officails say this was "encounter" with a black bear. They go on to write no one had actual pysical contact with the Bear. The wounds where likely caused by sticks & branches during there running away from the Bear. State Park Rangers are now classifying this as another encounter !  Campers also confirmed the Bear was not acting aggresive !  BTW they are over 15,000 Bears in PA....please keep them in PA too ! Is was nice also to read they are no known Black Bear killings on record in the state of PA.

[MTNDAVE]

And then there is THIS really graphic version.

[copcarguy]

I am finding this so so very entertaining!  While reading all the different versions, (thank you MTNDAVE!) one of my favorite movies of all time came to mind.  This is just like "Harry and the Hendersons".  If you have never seen this movie, you owe it to yourself to go to Blockbuster right now and rent it, or stay tuned right here and live the real-life version.