Two bears have been euthanized by Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff after an attack on June 10.

Richard Hatten of Maryville, Tenn., was pulled from a hammock where he was sleeping at Elkmont Campground. Hatten, who was not seriously injured, was bitten once on the left arm and once on the right leg.

Two bears were trapped at the sight. Park spokesman Bob Miller said because biologists could not ascertain which bear had bitten Hatten, the park had no choice but to euthanize both bears.

Park biologist Kim Delozier said necropsies had been performed by University of Tennessee Veterinary College and the Tennessee Department of Public Health would test for rabies.

Hatten was sleeping in a hammock near a tent where his son and a friend were sleeping. Family and friends had grilled chicken that night and park officials believe the aroma attracted the bear.

Hatten said he didn’t know how he got out of his sleeping bag. He remembers awakening to a bear staring him in the face.

A nearby camper, Scott Wilson of Newnan, Ga., heard the attack and came to Hatten’s aid.
The bear rushed Wilson, who fought it off with a broomstick.

According to Delozier, Hatten, a bear hunter, accepted a lot of the responsibility for the attack. Miller said the attack may have been avoided if the campers had cleaned the campsite after grilling and Hatten had changed clothes or washed the odor out of his shirt.

Hatten told reporters he learned from the incident.

“I’ll do things differently. I’ll certainly change clothes after cooking and eating and I won’t sleep outside.”

The park urges visitors to keep cooking and sleeping areas separate; keep tents and sleeping bags free from food odors; secure all food and attractants such as toothpaste and soap at night and when not in use; use food storage devices if they are present. If they are not, hang food at least 10 feet from the ground and at least five feet from any nearby limbs.

“We can never change the nature of bears but we hope to change the behavior of people,” Miller said.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News