Hiker went too close to bear before fatal attack
Source: Agencies |
August 27, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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A hiker in Alaska's Denali National Park photographed a grizzly bear for at least eight minutes before the bear mauled and killed him in the first fatal attack in the park's history.
Investigators have recovered the camera and looked at the photographs, which show the bear grazing and not acting aggressively before the Friday attack, Denali Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said.
A state trooper shot and killed the male bear on Saturday.
The hiker was identified late Saturday as Richard White, 49, of San Diego. He was backpacking alone along the Toklat River on Friday afternoon when he came within 50 meters of the bear, far closer than the 0.4 kilometers of separation required by park rules, officials said.
"They show the bear grazing in the willows, not acting aggressive in any form or manner during that period of time," Anderson said of the photos.
Officials learned of the attack after hikers stumbled upon an abandoned backpack along the river about 5 kilometers from a rest area. The hikers also spotted torn clothing and blood. They immediately hiked back and alerted staff park.
Rangers in a helicopter spotted a large male grizzly bear sitting on the hiker's remains, which they called a "food cache" about 100 to 150 meters from the site of the attack on Friday.
Investigators examined the bear's stomach contents, looked at White's photos and used other tests on Saturday evening to confirm that it was the animal that killed White.
Investigators have recovered the camera and looked at the photographs, which show the bear grazing and not acting aggressively before the Friday attack, Denali Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said.
A state trooper shot and killed the male bear on Saturday.
The hiker was identified late Saturday as Richard White, 49, of San Diego. He was backpacking alone along the Toklat River on Friday afternoon when he came within 50 meters of the bear, far closer than the 0.4 kilometers of separation required by park rules, officials said.
"They show the bear grazing in the willows, not acting aggressive in any form or manner during that period of time," Anderson said of the photos.
Officials learned of the attack after hikers stumbled upon an abandoned backpack along the river about 5 kilometers from a rest area. The hikers also spotted torn clothing and blood. They immediately hiked back and alerted staff park.
Rangers in a helicopter spotted a large male grizzly bear sitting on the hiker's remains, which they called a "food cache" about 100 to 150 meters from the site of the attack on Friday.
Investigators examined the bear's stomach contents, looked at White's photos and used other tests on Saturday evening to confirm that it was the animal that killed White.
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