Black bear attacks boy in Smokies; father also hurt
A black bear repeatedly mauled an 8-year-old boy Monday evening near a popular motor trail on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, and an animal matching its description was later killed by park rangers.
The boy’s father also was injured while successfully defending his son from the animal, said officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but none of their injuries were believed to be life-threatening.
The dead bear was described as a “55-pound male yearling” that was probably born in the spring of 2007, according to park spokesman Bob Miller. Rangers were confident they’d bagged the right animal but won’t know for sure until a necropsy is performed at the University of Tennessee, he said.
