A man who went into Great Smoky Mountains National Park to poach ginseng root (pictured here) might have been killed by a bear/NPS
A black bear believed to have scavenged on the body of a man who went to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to collect ginseng roots was killed Sunday morning by park rangers. Whether the adult boar actually killed the man remained to be determined, park staff said.
William Lee Hill, Jr., 30, of Louisville, Tenn., and a friend had gone into the park near Cades Cove a week ago Friday to hunt for ginseng, a root used by some as a traditional home medicine. Prices can go as high as $800 a pound for ginseng. While the root can be collected outside the park, it is illegal to do so inside the boundaries.
When Hill failed to meet up with his friend, a search was launched last Sunday. The man's body was found Tuesday afternoon in the woods about 2 miles north of Cades Cove and about a half-mile from the Rich Mountain Road.
Searchers who found the body, which had signs of being fed on, saw a bear in the area. It "would not leave the area, and continued to show aggression towards our searchers and others who came in to remove the body," park spokeswoman Julena Campbell said Sunday.
Since it wasn't known whether the bear had killed Hill, the decision was made to place a GPS radio collar on the bear and let it go pending further information, she said. While rangers were putting the collar on the bear, they found evidence of human DNA on it, she said.
On Wednesday, park staff, in discussions with Superintendent Cassius Cash, decided to destroy the bear. However, the GPS collar placed on the animal was programmed to send out location signals every two or three hours, and so it took longer than expected to relocate the bear, said Ms. Campbell.
Additional traps were placed near where Hill's body was found, and while the bear didn't go into any of them, on Sunday morning shortly before 10 a.m. when the traps were checked the bear was seen in the area and was killed, she said.
A necropsy on the bear, which was estimated to weigh about 175 pounds, was planned. Park officials also were awaiting autopsy results on Hill to determine how he died.
"This one’s a complicated case," Ms. Campbell said. "We don’t know what we'll find out.”
Comments
Actually had this conversation about a week ago...
So you want to put humans below animals? Harambe > the kid that fell in the cage? Do you know what kind of cage you are putting yourself in?
Parks are a complete fabrication of "nature" as cuties are a fabrication of "where we belong". Conflict with wild animals has and always will be ongoing. What GSMNP does, is work to manage the conflict to mitigate risks we have toward each other.
Killingbears is a last resort and has no measurable impact on the bear populations which number 2/sq mile.
You have a lot of passion for the bears, but display less than critical or informed argument. Education is the best defense, but will never erase the presence of human-animal conflict.
This is NOT THE BEAR'S FAULT! This is human fault. I visit the Smokies and Gatlinburg frequently. Stupidity like this is why I won't be there anymore! I am betting Cubs were in the area. This man was poaching Ginseng in an area that is known to anyone who can read the warning signs not to feed the bears. This was the bear's habitat that he encroached on. Shooting a bear in the head is INHUMANE!
I'm with you 100%!!! WE should be held more accountable for our actions. Especially when it involves doing something illegal & using poor judgement! It's one thing if a bear shows up on our turf aggressively. But when we, the more "intellectual " beings show up in their living environment, we have to remember that these are WILD animals & not teddy bears! It's having respect for our animal kingdom that live in the great outdoors!! If a petition for their protection becomes available, please post so those who agree & want to help, can!!!!
AMen!!!!
Don't Worry, The Animals ALWAYS PAY, For Human Stupidity
I believe we need to verify how that young man died. Did he have a heart attack, fall hit his head, etc? Maybe he died and wildlife started scavenging on this body and bear claimed him as food source? Was he caught off guard at night time? He is in their territory. Whose to say. But facts need determined first.. Understand that bear does not need mixed with humans, relocate him!! Obviously too late now. I have been following this story since it happened and will continue to follow. What's fair ????
Now now, closing down the trails is a bit extreme. There's plenty of room for the bears and people as long as the people stay on the trails. The local that were breaking the law didn't deserve to die. The bear on the other hand was eating the human and this is not normal. Once a bear gets a taste of a human they become a threat to people inside and outside of the national park. We live within a few miles of this area and hike there often. Have seen a few bear near the trails but they will just normally run off into the woods. No harm No foul.
My opinion .Personally , I feel that there should be permits given to hunters to take game in national parks to help control wildlife population .To me , ( I no longer hunt ) I feel that a great disservice was done by our government by taking people's land and turning that into parks .( such as ( Cades Cove ) I,and many others drive through there and see beautiful meadows and pastures being allowed to grow back into forests.What is the beauty in that ? Animals have their place , right beside the beans and potatoes on my plate .Ms. Williams ,if you don't enjoy seeing the animals ,why go there ? Human life is way more important than animal life .Where is your indignation concerning human life ?