Was the TN Mauling a Nuisance Bear Relocated to the area? Originally posted 4/06

May 27, 2006

People living in the rural area near where the attack happened are questioning if this is one of the nuisance bears moved here from the Gatlinburg area.

TWRA officer Les Jones said the bear did not have an ear tag or any other markings that they use to identify bears that have been relocated.

Tests on the bear captured so far have not shown it to be the bear responsible for the attack.

Williams said the necropsy so far does not positively link the first bear with the victims. He said further forensic tests could take weeks to complete and may not be able to make a positive link. He added a final confirmation may be made based on piecing together several elements of the investigation.

Early reports stated that hair was collected at the attack site, and its well documented that biologists have been utilizing hair DNA to count bears for population studies, so I don’t see how a positive ID can not be made.

The first bear trapped Easter Sunday weighs 203 pounds according to TWRA biologist Laura Lewis. She said a necropsy shows the bear did not have rabies and had no signs of a neurological disorder or disease that could alter the bears’ behavior or make it more aggressive.

If this is the bear responsible for the attack other then it acting like a predator there would appear to be no other explanation for why it attacked this family.
A second much smaller bear has been captured and its being held alive until all tests on the first bear come back.

TWRA officers said they trapped a second bear but do not think it was the one that killed 6 year old Elora Petrasek and seriously mauled her mother Susan Cenkus and her two year old son Luke.

The second bear is a male weighing about 120 pounds. Witness accounts have the suspect bear weighing closer to 200 to 225 pounds.

In my experience people often misjudge the weight of an animal often over estimate the size.

A West Polk County Fire-Rescue officer earlier said he fired a .380 hand gun twice at the bear when he found it standing over Eloras’ body and thought he struck the animal. The bear ran into the woods.

Rangers and wardens, who would have more experience at judging a size of a bear, must have arrived on the scene after the bear left if a Fire Rescue officer had to shoot at the bear.
I wonder if Tennessee officials will relook at how they handle nuisance bears? Currently the University of Florida is studying the effectiveness of moving problem bears. Past studies have shown that bears have a great ability to travel back to their “home range” after being relocated.

Black bears have a well-developed homing instinct and are capable of returning to their home range from long distances. In New York, 22 (42%) of 52 nuisance bears transported 9 to 67 miles returned to the origin. Returns dropped when bears were moved >40 miles but 1 male returned from 56 miles away. In Pennsylvania, 20 (48%) of 42 translocated nuisance bears returned from distances <40 miles. In British Columbia, 68% of nuisance bears returned when moved up to 50 miles. Translocation studies in 11 states and provinces suggest that adult bears must be moved >40 miles to ensure <50% return. In Virginia, studies suggested that translocations <50 miles were ineffective. Young males appear to show less site fidelity and may be translocated shorter distances. The basic mechanisms involved in homing and orientation are unknown but do not involve random movements or an expanding search pattern. Homeward orientation does not require familiarity with the release site and may function at distances up to 168 miles.

Bears conflict with humans will continue to rise as more and more of the habitat the bear needs is lost. Additionally more people moving into rural areas that have little experience or common sense when faced with the challenges of the “wilderness”.
The rest of the family injured in this attack continue to progress in the physical healing.
[quote] Susan Cenkus of Clyde, Ohio, survivor of a bear attack at Cherokee National Forest last Thursday, remains in stable condition in an intensive care unit at Erlanger. But today she was well enough to have a short visit with her two-year-old son, Luke.

Still listed in fair condition at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, Luke continues to show steady improvement and has been watching television, playing and spending time with his father and extended family members, hospital officials said.[/quote]
A fund has been established to assist the family

Citizens of Polk County, Tn., where the attack took place, have established a fund to assist with funeral expenses for Susan’s six-year-old daughter Elora Petrosek, who was killed in the attack, and medical expenses for Susan and Luke.

To make a donation, visit any branch of First Tennessee Bank or call (423) 757-4011.

Links
News Reports
http://www.newschannel9.com/engine.pl?station=wtvc&id=4099&template=breakout_story1.shtml&dateformat=%25M+%25e,%25Y
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_84119.asp
Other info
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_bear_biology_faqs.htm
http://www.wildflorida.org/bear/research.htm