Bear attack of hammock camper last night in GSMNP

[dakotaross]

There's got to be an animal on this planet that's smarter and more compassionate than humans.

Dogs. Except the smarter they are, the less compassionate they tend to be. Yeah, I have a lab.

[wisenber]

I use a Fronkey style bugnet but don't put shock cord in the bottom. I just leave it open which makes getting out a breeze. I didn't do this to escape a bear attack, but just to make the 3:00a.m. pee break easier. Of course, in the case of a bear attack, it would be too late for a pee break!

I don't think that a bear would notice what style of bugnet is on a hammock. I don't think I'll be getting a quick release Spectra bugnet in the hopes of thwarting a once every 15 year bear attack.

I wonder if the bear in question had been a problem before. The park has a history of relocating problem bears outside the park to Big Frog. Some of them make their way back.

[wisenber]

I wonder if we will ever hear a first hand account from the father and son as to how the attack went down.Good news is that the young man is expected to recover but to my knowledge the exact extent of the injuries have not been reported,or,if they have,I can't find them.

http://www.wlos.com/news/features/to...l#.VXiqSEYYSfL

[cjayflo]

I need to count to 100. I'm reading a lot of comments on some other media, wow people are mean.

[Shug]

I think I will go attack a bear next week to even the score))))))
Shug Inex Ringge

[wisenber]

I think I will go attack a bear next week to even the score))))))
Shug Inex Ringge

I had some loppers with me the last time I was in bear country. About a dozen or so quick lunges and the bear's nails will be well trimmed and harmless. At that point I can trap him with the bugnet from my hammock.

[MississipVol]

I remember a bear attack in the Smokies about 12 years ago with a guy sleeping in a hammock in one of the car camping campgrounds. He felt bad because he grilled out chicken but didn't change his shirt, intending to only lie down for a short time. The man woke up when the bear took a bite out of him, I guess thinking he was bbq chicken. The bear shooed away at first but then came back and showed signs of aggression. A park ranger took him down.

I had to wonder if maybe they ate something odorous that night and the boy had the smell on his clothes. It still makes it a rare occurrence but just a little more understandable. The few times I've camped in the Smokies, I've always changed my shirts before going to bed because of that story.

[Donk_67]

I'm glad Gabe will recover and it doesn't sound like this attack will deter them from getting out into the woods.

[wisenber]

I remember a bear attack in the Smokies about 12 years ago with a guy sleeping in a hammock in one of the car camping campgrounds. He felt bad because he grilled out chicken but didn't change his shirt, intending to only lie down for a short time. The man woke up when the bear took a bite out of him, I guess thinking he was bbq chicken. The bear shooed away at first but then came back and showed signs of aggression. A park ranger took him down.

I had to wonder if maybe they ate something odorous that night and the boy had the smell on his clothes. It still makes it a rare occurrence but just a little more understandable. The few times I've camped in the Smokies, I've always changed my shirts before going to bed because of that story.

If the bear finds the smell of a chicken infused shirt appetizing, the same would be true for ones hair, skin and anything else exposed to the scent.
That being said, the designated campsites in the Smokies make it difficult to cook in one area and sleep in another as you're stuck in one spot. The only other option would be to cook in another campsite along the way, but that would just be passing the buck to whomever stays where you cooked.

[Whiskeyjack]

I like camping with large 4 legged companions. Bears tend to not like coming around them.