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Periodically, we get threads asking what's the appropriate gun to use for bear defense. Usually someone will say that black bears aren't dangerous. Just ran across this item on another bboard:
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Woman Killed by Bear in Tennessee
By Duncan Mansfield
Associated Press Writer
Monday, May 22, 2000; 1:37 p.m. EDT
GATLINBURG, Tenn. –– A woman waiting for her ex-husband on a trail at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was killed by a black bear.
Glenda Ann Bradley, 50, of Cosby was mauled Sunday, becoming the first person killed by a black bear in a federal park or reserve in the Southeast, park officials said. "This was simply an unprovoked attack," Phil Francis, the park's acting superintendent, said Monday.
Bradley, an experienced hiker, and Ralph Hill, 52, entered the park about noon. The couple, who had been reconciling, hiked about 10 miles from Gatlinburg. Hill told authorities he left Bradley on the trail to go fishing. He returned about an hour later to find her backpack on the trail and two black bears – an adult female and a yearling – at her body about 50 yards away. The 111-pound adult bear apparently killed the woman.
Two rangers shot and killed the animals. Rangers had tagged the adult bear in 1998 and had placed an orphaned cub with her. Miller said the animal wasn't known as a problem bear.
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Dunno if she got between the mother and cub, or what. Perhaps she could have avoided the attack if she knew more about bears.
Nevertheless, even small black bears can be dangerous.
Jared
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