Bear Rips Into Tent At Great Smoky Mountains, Wounding Mom And Toddler

GATLINBURG, TN — A 350-pound black bear ripped into a tent at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and wounded a 3-year-old girl and her mother.

A family of five was asleep in a tent with their dog around 5:30 a.m. Sunday when a bear burst into the tent, scratching the mother and child on their heads, National Parks Service officials said in a news release. The bear was searching for food.

The mother and child suffered superficial injuries. The father eventually scared the bear away from the tent after repeated attempts. The family took the mother and girl to receive treatment.

Staffers placed traps in the campground area and caught the bear, which was humanely euthanized, the park said.

The bear showed "extreme food-conditioned behavior and lack of fear of humans," parks officials said. It "boldly" entered the trap and was put down since it was deemed a "risk to human safety."

"The bear weighed approximately 350 pounds, which is not standard for this time of year, suggesting the bear had previous and likely consistent access to non-natural food sources,” Lisa McInnis, the park's head of resource management, said in a statement.

The bear was probably attracted to food smells such as dog food at the campground, she said.

"It is very difficult to deter this learned behavior and, as in this case, the result can lead to an unacceptable risk to people," McInnis said.

Wildlife biologists were monitoring the area.

As a public safety precaution, several sites in the Elkmont Campground area and surrounding loops were temporarily closed. Tents and soft-sided shelters are not recommended until further notice.

Human-bear conflicts peak in late May and June when natural foods, such as berries, are not yet available, the parks service said. Bears can be drawn to campgrounds' garbage and picnic sites.

There have been two bear-related human deaths reported in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the National Park Service said. The last attack was in September 2020, when a bear killed a camper near Hazel Creek.

About 1,500 bears live at all elevations in the park. The parks service warned that they are "wild and their behavior can be unpredictable."

"Although extremely rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution," the parks service said on its website.

The campground is about eight miles from Gatlinburg. With 200 tent and RV campsites and 20 walk-in sites for tents, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.