A 10-year-old was bitten by bear in Yellowstone National Park on Thursday/NPS file
A 10-year-old boy was saved from more serious injury from a bear Thursday in Yellowstone National Park when his parents defended him with a dose of bear spray in the bruin's face from five feet away, park officials said.
The family of four, from Washington state, was hiking up the Divide Trail southeast of the Old Faithful complex about 10 a.m. when the bear charged out of vegetation towards the family, according to the park. The boy ran from the bear, and it chased after him and knocked him to the ground.
"The parents effectively deployed bear spray about five feet from the bear’s face. Thereafter, the bear shook its head and left the area," a park release said. "After the incident, the family walked back to the trailhead, drove to the Old Faithful Ranger Station, and were directed to the nearby clinic. The 10-year-old suffered an injured wrist, puncture wounds to the back, and wounds around the buttocks. He was transferred to the Big Sky Medical Center."
Law enforcement and bear management staff responded immediately to the area and were trying to determine whether a black or grizzly bear was involved in the incident. The Spring Creek and Divide trails were temporarily closed.
Park staff pointed out that all of Yellowstone is bear habitat: "from the deepest backcountry to the boardwalks around Old Faithful." Visitors should be prepared to encounter bears anywhere in the park, they added.
There has not been a reported bear attack in Yellowstone since 2015. On average, one bear attack per year occurs in the park, the staff noted.
Comments
the parents did the right thing. I'm so glad the boy was ,ok!
The scat also smells like pepper spray. ROFL
I am so glad to read theae comments. I would not know what to do if I saw a bear. I will have bear spray when visiting bear country.
HahahA. That made me giggle!!
Depends on what bear country. Bear spray is still considered a prohibited weapon in most NPS areas unless the superintendent has carved out an exception. Strangely enough, a firearm would typically be allowed in such areas if they're generally legal to carry outside the NPS land.
And everyone really needs to understand the difference between an American black bear and a grizzly bear. Black bears are generally less aggressive, although they have been known for more predatory attacks. They're known to be fearful of humans to some degree and can typically be scared away. But grizzly bears are another matter. I've heard in certain areas they won't even back off of confrontations with polar bears, which are considerably bigger and stronger. However, I've heard that grizzly bears generally try to avoid humans. When I was hiking solo in Yellowstone, a ranger gave me advice before setting out to make a good deal of noise going around blind corners so they would likely steer clear of me.
Where did you get the idea that Bear Spray is prohibited in NPS areas? It is recommended in all parks with bears that I can think of. Certainly, it is not welcomed in VC's or urban and historical parks. Can you list a NPS unit that has a population of bears that Bear Spray is illegal? I can't think of one or why.
Only legal where there are grizzly bears via a superintendent's order. The NPS policy against weapons (other than firearms via the credit card bill rider) still holds. It would be legal to carry in the Sierra Nevada up to the point where one enters Yosemite or SEKI.
In Yellowstone, bear spray is allowed via the superintendent's standing order.
You got me on Yosemite. I suspect Yosemite is more worried about visitors using it on visitors than bear attacks. As squirrely as those bears are, ripping into cars and such, I would think it is only matter of time before one rips into a tent with campers. I am very surprised they have gone that route.
The Canadian parks went through this same train of thought for a number of years. They saw it as a weapon for people, unless the cannister specifically stated it was intended for bears. Same canister and recipe, it just came down to labeling. Now all Bear Spray says it is for wildlife.
YOSE and SEKI aside, all other National Parks allow and recommend the carrying of it.