NC - Patrick Madura, 43, camper, remains found near bears, Great Smoky Mountains, Sept 2020

[MajorHoople]

Great Smoky Mountains Officials Identify Body Found In Backcountry Campsite

Rangers identified the hiker as 43-year-old Patrick Madura of Elgin, Illinois. Backpackers initially found a bear scavenging on Madura's remains near campsite 82. Rangers eventually euthanized the bear.

 

[al66pine]

No matter how this situation developed, sad, sad, sad for the man and the bear both.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Officials say campers often come to the park to be closer to wildlife. Friday night, however, backpackers hiking in the area found an empty tent and what appeared to be human remains nearby. They called police, who discovered a black bear scavenging those remains.

They were identified as 43-year-old Patrick Madura of Elgin.

Elgin man's remains found in Great Smoky Mountain National Park with bear scavenging nearby

RIP Patrick

 

[Marg from Oz]

Hoping he died of natural causes. RIP

 

[MajorHoople]

Hoping he died of natural causes. RIP

I hope so too. There's no word yet if that's the case or if the bear attacked and killed Mr. Madura. Bear attacks are a very sensitive subject for Park Service.

 

[mlhenn]

Rangers identify human remains found in Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Additional article

Remains Identified

Authorities have identified the remains of a man found at a campsite in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park rangers say hikers found the body of 43-year-old Patrick Madura of Elgin, Illinois, on Friday afternoon.

When GSMNP staff arrived at the campsite shortly after midnight, rangers witnessed the bear "actively scavenging on the remains" and euthanized the animal.

The cause of death is unknown and remains under investigation.

 

[MajorHoople]

The bears are getting bold in Tennessee:

Bear Found Eating Human Remains In Campbell County, Tennessee

"A bear was discovered eating human remains in the backyard of a Jellico, Tennessee home Wednesday.

According to a spokesperson with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the home near 4667 Highway 25 in Jellico for a welfare check. Upon arrival, the deputies discovered a bear eating human remains in the back yard of the home."

 

[Timekeeper65]

@MajorHoople I live close to both of these areas. Every year I find black bear poop in the driveway. Just noticed some a couple of days ago. And so it begins.

 

[JudgeJoe]

@MajorHoople I live close to both of these areas. Every year I find black bear poop in the driveway. Just noticed some a couple of days ago. And so it begins.

I hope you keep your bear spray on your hip when looking at the scat!

 

[Rosegold68]

why did they kill the bear?

 

[MajorHoople]

Bear found eating human remains in Campbell Co.

 

[MajorHoople]

TWRA: Bear euthanized after found near remains of missing man, bear carcass in Blount County | WATE 6 On Your Side

"Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is assisting the Blount County Sheriff’s Office after human remains were located with black bears present in the area.

Investigators said they do not believe that bears caused the death of 46-year-old Spence Webb, who was found in a heavily wooded area off Fence Rail Gap Road in Walland.

TWRA reports that a black bear was observed in the area of the man’s remains and that the carcass of another black bear was also found near the body."

 

[worm]

TWRA: Bear euthanized after found near remains of missing man, bear carcass in Blount County | WATE 6 On Your Side

"Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is assisting the Blount County Sheriff’s Office after human remains were located with black bears present in the area.

Investigators said they do not believe that bears caused the death of 46-year-old Spence Webb, who was found in a heavily wooded area off Fence Rail Gap Road in Walland.

TWRA reports that a black bear was observed in the area of the man’s remains and that the carcass of another black bear was also found near the body."

The bears have such an acute sense of smell that I’m sure remains odor catches their attention. They can smell food items sitting out in a campsite for some distance.

 

[MajorHoople]

Smokies bear attack: Teenager injured while sleeping in hammock | wbir.com

"Rangers said the teen was sleeping when the bear attacked. They said the family had taken all proper precautions for food storage.

According to park officials, the girl was camping with her family at Backcountry Campsite 29 in the Cosby section of the park when the attack happened. The family was able to drive the bear away and called for help.

The incident happened about 12:30 a.m. Friday.

When rangers arrived, they provided medical care to the teen, who had multiple cuts on her body, including to her head.

The Tennessee Military Department and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were alerted shortly before 7 a.m. Friday about the wounded teen.

A Knoxville-based Tennessee Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter arrived at the campsite about 8:45 a.m. A critical care paramedic rode a hoist down to the site, assessed the teen with rangers and then rode back up with her in the hoist to the chopper hovering overhead.

The entire hoisting operation took 14 minutes to complete, according to the National Guard.

The Blackhawk then flew her on to University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment. She was in stable condition, according to park officials."

 

[MajorHoople]

Bear Attack In The Smokies

posted on Jun 18, 2021 by WATE News

 

[MajorHoople]

I hope you keep your bear spray on your hip when looking at the scat!

It's official, a bear killed Mr. Madura. The suggestion by the Park Rangers to carry bear spray is a new one and no doubt a wise idea.

2020 death in Great Smoky Mountains was second bear-related fatality in park history | WATE 6 On Your Side

NORTH CAROLINA (WATE) — Nearly a year after the remains of an Illinois man were found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner reports Patrick Madura died due to trauma caused by a bear.

In September of 2020, Madura’s remains were found by backpackers near the Hazel Creek Area and reported a bear was scavenging the area. When authorities arrived, they observed the bear actively scavenging on the human remains and promptly euthanized it.

Hikers are reminded to take necessary precautions while in bear country, including hiking in groups of three or more, carrying bear spray, complying with all backcountry closures, properly following food storage regulations, and remaining at a safe viewing distance from bears at all times.