John B
06-28-2010, 16:08
This is about 50 miles from Lexington, KY. I hike in the gorge about once a month. In all my years, I've never even seen a bear in the gorge; however, I do know that they have introduced bears in southeastern KY in recent years.
Red River Gorge is closed after bear attack
By Josh Kegley and Dori Hjalmarson - [email protected] ([email protected])
The Red River Gorge area in Daniel Boone National Forest is closed until further notice because of an attack by a black bear Sunday.
Officials have not released the hiker's name or discussed the extent of his injuries.
The man, said to be in his mid-50s, was hiking with his wife and son on Pinch-Em-Tight Trail on Sunday when a black bear approached and attacked unprovoked, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Kimberly Morgan said. The man, a Springfield resident, was taken to a hospital in Irvine and later to University of Kentucky Hospital.
State wildlife officials are setting traps in the area to capture the bear, and until they have caught it or know that it has left the area, the Red River Gorge recreation area will be closed, Morgan said.
"For this bear to have attacked, it's an aggressive bear," she said.
The closed area includes all National Forest System lands north of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to U.S. Highway 460 in Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties.
Anyone who sees a black bear in the Red River Gorge area is urged to call 1-800-252-5378.
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/28/1327571/gorge-closes-after-bear-attack.html#ixzz0sBEWKnkS
Red River Gorge is closed after bear attack
By Josh Kegley and Dori Hjalmarson - [email protected] ([email protected])
The Red River Gorge area in Daniel Boone National Forest is closed until further notice because of an attack by a black bear Sunday.
Officials have not released the hiker's name or discussed the extent of his injuries.
The man, said to be in his mid-50s, was hiking with his wife and son on Pinch-Em-Tight Trail on Sunday when a black bear approached and attacked unprovoked, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Kimberly Morgan said. The man, a Springfield resident, was taken to a hospital in Irvine and later to University of Kentucky Hospital.
State wildlife officials are setting traps in the area to capture the bear, and until they have caught it or know that it has left the area, the Red River Gorge recreation area will be closed, Morgan said.
"For this bear to have attacked, it's an aggressive bear," she said.
The closed area includes all National Forest System lands north of Natural Bridge State Resort Park to U.S. Highway 460 in Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties.
Anyone who sees a black bear in the Red River Gorge area is urged to call 1-800-252-5378.
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/28/1327571/gorge-closes-after-bear-attack.html#ixzz0sBEWKnkS