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.
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Comments
I'm very glad the people were not mortally wounded and sounds as if they'll be fine. However I completely disagree with putting the animal down. You're in their hood.
Let's not talk about the fact that quite a few people around Asheville think it's cool to feed bears on their porches and around their businesses. Let's not blame the people who mostly likely habituated this bear to getting food from humans.
Keep bears wild!
Wow. The responses don't seem to show an understanding of normal black bear behavior.
Sure the requirement is that dogs should be leashed, but I doubt that the dog being unleashed affects whether or not they choose to put down the bear. Black bears are normally very timid around humans and usually try to avoid any kind of conflict. Attacks are exceedingly rare, although huffing and bluff charges often happen when they're scared but not really looking to attack. That this bear didn't just get the heck out of there and tried to attack two people is the reason why they want to put it down.
The Blue Ridge Parkway probably also has interesting jurisdictional issues if they're coordinating with North Carolina regarding a bear. But absolutely their policy is that whenever a bear is deemed to be dangerous it will be killed. I guess many here don't like it, but it's pretty similar to the policies that federal agencies employ.
Dumb suburbanites come to these parks and don't know how to act.
I've seem them in my area of the Blue Ridge trying to photograph and pet lost cubs!!
Don't blame the bear for their stupidity.
Hope the couple are heavily fined.
Once a bear attacks and engages with humans, it is not scared of them and more attacks *will* happen. So there is no loss of human life it is in the best interest to euthanize the bear. Not enough details in this story about what happened to make a good determination of the dog and the picnicing couple.
Killing the bear is wrong! The idiotic couple should be punished. Having their dog off leash was wrong. We've taken most of the habitat from wild animals. Humans suck.