Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials still don't know whether a backpacker was killed by a black bear last fall/Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials hope results of an autopsy on a backpacker whose body was being scavenged by a black bear will tell whether the man was killed by the bear.
The necropsy on the bear found last September near the body of Patrick Madura, 43, of Elgin, Illinois, determined it was a healthy, year-old, 231-pound animal.
Madura was on a multi-day backpack in the park that straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border and had reserved backcountry campsite 82 for the night of September 8, park officials said. Three days later, backpackers coming down the trail spotted his unoccupied tent, and then noticed a black bear scavenging his remains.
The hikers quickly left to obtain cell coverage and report the incident to the authorities. Law enforcement rangers and wildlife officers reached the campsite shortly after midnight, confirmed the report of a deceased adult human male, and killed a bear seen scavenging on the remains.
The ensuing necropsy determined that "(T)here is no evidence of underlying disease in the bear."
At the national park, Dana Soehn said autopsy results on the backpacker still hadn't been received.
"We are waiting on the autopsy and an assessment of cause of death to be able to close out this case," she said Monday in an email. "Until the autopsy comes back, it is unknown whether the bear was responsible for the death of the individual or if it was simply feeding on him after he died."
Great Smoky is home to an estimated 1,500 bears. Very few bears exhibit aggressive behavior towards humans. Wildlife biologists and park rangers work hard to prevent bears from becoming food-conditioned or habituated to high-use areas. Out of an abundance of caution for the park's 11 million park visitors, park staff implement aversive-conditioning techniques and, on rare occasions, euthanize individual bears that pose a threat to visitor safety.
Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places
Comments
As my Father has already pointed out, we think of Patrick everyday and miss him more than we can ever put into words. To the people who have commented and expressed their concern and sent their thoughts and prayers to our family, thank you. To the other comments from the "Monday Quaterbacks", I hope you never have to go through the hell that my family has had to endure the last several months. Especially from the relentless press. I am the only family member that has been in close contact with the Park Rangers throughout this process I cannot express how grateful I am for the Rangers continued support and professionism. When the timing is right, I will make an official announcment on behalf of my family. Until then, I will have no other comment. Thank you for your understanding.
I knew Patrick, he would never do anything to approach or antagonize a bear. He had a masters in biology, and had a tremendous respect for nature. You are the idiot for assuming that all bear attacks are due to human stupidity. Nature is nature, things happen. Patrick Madura was no fool.
My condolences to your family.. So very sorry
So sorry to the family of this hiker. Glad they will at least receive answers.
Never heard of an autopsy taking 6 months.
Some people have nothing better to do than make STUPID and IODIOTIC comments. Some people strive to be relevant by any means necessary, even on tragic stories as this, sad world we live in today!!!
Rest in peace Patrick Madura , prayers for your family. Unfortunately things like this can happen when we go into the forest and enjoy our natural resources, that's just the chance we take. I totally agree with the action taken with the bear, as there is no way to take the chance that it ,after making that connection would not wonder into someone's yard with people outside and attack someone. Seems Mr. Madura in his passing was doing what he loved and to me there is a certain solace in that.
I hope that after all findings are said and done that they are published as they can be talked and discussed about and learned from. In Mr. Madura's honor we have to be diligent to help protect and save our natural resources as it is getting harder year after year , especially with the way humans act this day in age!!
I worked with Patrick at Popular Automotive and he was extremely intelligent! So sorry for your terrible loss. I rmember when he left to go on this excursion.
WOW. Lot of assumptions. Must be nice to be a know it all.