Jun 28, 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. – More than a dozen wildlife and law enforcement officers are actively searching for a black bear that attacked a hiker Sunday afternoon in the Red River Gorge Geological Area north of Campton, Ky.

A Springfield resident reported that he was attacked by a bear as he hiked with his dog along the trail to Gray’s Arch near the Wolfe-Menifee county line around 2:30 p.m.

Sunday’s incident is the only known bear attack on a person in Kentucky in modern times.

“This is not typical black bear behavior,” said Wildlife Division Director Karen Waldrop of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We are aggressively trying to locate and trap this bear so that it can be euthanized for the public’s protection.”

Steven Dobey, black bear biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, said foothold snares are being deployed in the backcountry to capture the bear. A culvert trap has also been set up in the Koomer Ridge Campground. Waldrop said wildlife officials are patrolling roads in the area in an attempt to locate the bear.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s policy is to destroy any bear that shows aggressive behavior toward humans, or enters a house in search of food, Waldrop said.

The attack on Scott stopped after a group of four hikers arrived at the scene and rescued him.

The U.S. Forest Service has closed the Red River Gorge northeast of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to recreational use. The closure includes the Clifty Wilderness Area. Road access in the area is limited pending capture of the bear.