“This bear was exhibiting predatory behavior it attacked in the middle of the night with no known provocation. Fortunately, the family was close by and able to scare the bear away and keep it at bay until the Rangers arrived.” –Dana Soehn with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A16-year-old girl is recovering after getting attacked by a bear in the middle of the night while sleeping in a hammock in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. WSBTV reports the black bear attacked the girl while she was just feet away from her family in the Crosby, Tennessee area of the park in a backcountry campsite. Despite injuries to her head and an incredible amount of blood loss, officials say the girl was conscious throughout the attack. Their back country campsite was nearly six miles from the trailhead in very steep terrain with thick foliage. The Tennessee National Guard had to perform an emergency evacuation mission by helicopter. The bear was later identified and killed. The injured camper is in stable condition.