A.T. over Blood Mountain to be closed for bear operation

[Lauriep]

The following information comes to ATC from the U.S. Forest Service via the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club:

A large, food-conditioned bear has been determined to pose a threat to people in the vicinity of Blood Mountain. The bear will be euthanized by the Department of Natural Resources. The A.T. over Blood Mountain will be closed for a few days while this operation is taking place. The Freeman Trail will remain open and is to be used as an alternative. Signs and personnel will be placed at Bird Gap and Flatrock Gap to notify hikers. The dates of this closure have not yet been determined.

For tips on staying safe from bears in the backcountry, go to www.appalachiantrail.org/healthandsafety.

For other trail updates, go to www.appalachiantrail.org/updates.

Laurie Potteiger
ATC

[TJ aka Teej]

A large, food-conditioned bear has been determined to pose a threat to people in the vicinity of Blood Mountain.

Thanks, Laurie!
Anyone know about any ATers having contact with this bear?

[rcli4]

Excellent good half moon wrote about it in his journal

Clyde

[butts0989]

ya, i had a nice break and a snack bar with it right south of the summit, he's a nice dude, terrible thing they're doin to him

[Nean]

Another victim of hikers hanging their food, sad.

[V Eight]

Another victim of hikers hanging their food, sad.

With few exceptions, we are advised here to hang your food bag.
So, am I dense or this there anybody else that just did not get that

[Lone Wolf]

Another victim of hikers hanging their food, sad.

and staying at shelters with unprofessional bear cables

[Lone Wolf]

With few exceptions, we are advised here to hang your food bag.
So, am I dense or this there anybody else that just did not get that

advised where? i've never hung a food bag

[general]

advised where? i've never hung a food bag

i keep my food in my tent in between the nasty dog and the .45

[Troy]

Check out my earlier post "Bear trouble at Woods Hole". This bear was see numerous times and he is a huge bear. I hate to see the bear killed but I dont have a better answer for one that size and in an area that remote.

[generoll]

what's so special about a bear? I had beef in my taco for lunch and I'm pretty sure that cow had never done me any harm. when a bear forgets his place in the food chain then away with him.

[kanga]

With few exceptions, we are advised here to hang your food bag.
So, am I dense or this there anybody else that just did not get that

never hung my food. haven't met a black bear yet that thought it was worth going for.

[kanga]

what's so special about a bear? I had beef in my taco for lunch and I'm pretty sure that cow had never done me any harm. when a bear forgets his place in the food chain then away with him.

yeah, but bear just tastes nasty.

[Eagle98]

Who can blame Yogi for wanting to dine on those great trail meals. Maybe he was getting the meals for Cindy Bear or maybe his side kick Boo Boo Bear. Good hunting Ranger Smith.

[bronco]

I think a more appropiate thing to do is dart him and tag him. then relocate it. if it comes back then other methods should be used. in the shenandoahs that is what they do. some times people on these threads say some stupid things. when we are hiking we are visitors and it is there home we are hiking in. we have to act in a responsible way so things like this do not happen. I would hope people would respond in a more appropiate way on the threads.

[Lion King]

hiker cant outfight, out run or out think a bear they should stay home.

bears are cool man, dont kill him!

[Tagless]

I think a more appropiate thing to do is dart him and tag him. then relocate it. if it comes back then other methods should be used. in the shenandoahs that is what they do. some times people on these threads say some stupid things. when we are hiking we are visitors and it is there home we are hiking in. we have to act in a responsible way so things like this do not happen. I would hope people would respond in a more appropiate way on the threads.

I tend to agree with Bronco regarding relocating the bear. I passed through the Neels Gap area two weeks ago, a morning that seven hikers had their food supply completely pillaged. Some did not make a responsible effort to hang food. I witnessed this first hand. Seems like a shame to destroy an animal when human "visitors" are largely to blame.

[Cool AT Breeze]

I think a more appropiate thing to do is dart him and tag him. then relocate it. if it comes back then other methods should be used. in the shenandoahs that is what they do. some times people on these threads say some stupid things. when we are hiking we are visitors and it is there home we are hiking in. we have to act in a responsible way so things like this do not happen. I would hope people would respond in a more appropiate way on the threads.

He's been moved atleast twice.

[Appalachian Tater]

Bear operation = Bear killing
Euthanized = Killed

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

If the bear has been moved twice, then it is time for what Generoll mentions to happen. A large bear that has become acclimated to human food is a serious danger to both hikers and to people and pets who live near the area.

BTW, Kanga, you've just never had bear prepared correctly - it can be tasty.