gunsmith
member
I guess the bears are hungry this spring!
I called the park to make sure and, yup! they tell me (per Greg, a ranger of some kind 218 266 2100) no firearms except hunters in special areas, no hand guns period (they didn't seem to like being asked either)
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_5976881
Bear attack suspected after camper suffers minor injuries
BY DENNIS LIEN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 05/24/2007 04:50:47 PM CDT
One person suffered head lacerations early today after an animal, likely a small bear, attacked him in a tent in Itasca State Park in northwestern Minnesota, authorities said.
The person was treated for about a half-dozen two-inch lacerations at a Park Rapids hospital and released, according to Clearwater County Sheriff Mike Erickson.
The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. as a group of people were sleeping at a park campsite. The person who was attacked, a man believed to be in his mid-20s, was sleeping in a tent away from the others, according to Erickson.
Erickson said authorities haven't concluded yet what type of animal was involved, but believe it was a bear, and not a cougar.
"It appears to me a possibly small bear, out of curiosity, stuck his paws in the tent and raked them across the side of his head,'' Erickson said. "It wasn't a vicious attack by any means.
"It was like a kitten batting a little ball around,'' he added. "If the animal wanted to do damage, it would have been worse.''
He said the man was sleeping in a two-person domed tent. "He was in a sleeping bag, and the head was the only thing exposed,'' Erickson said.
Authorities said early indications are that the group consisted of some college students and at least one teacher.
Bear attacks are rare in Minnesota and the incident, if confirmed to involve a bear, would be the first one Erickson said he's heard of in the area.
With a continuing drought up north cutting into
natural food sources such as nuts and berries, authorities have received more reports this year of bears prowling around looking for food.
"We get more animals coming into town than we have had in the past,'' Erickson said.
Campers always are advised to keep food that can attract bears away from sleeping areas. Erickson said the person who was injured didn't have any food in his tent.
He said the area around Itasca State Park, between Park Rapids and Bemidji, has many signs warning people not to leave food around for animals such as raccoons and bears.
Dennis Lien can be reached at [email protected] or 651-228-5588.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html
I called the park to make sure and, yup! they tell me (per Greg, a ranger of some kind 218 266 2100) no firearms except hunters in special areas, no hand guns period (they didn't seem to like being asked either)
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_5976881
Bear attack suspected after camper suffers minor injuries
BY DENNIS LIEN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 05/24/2007 04:50:47 PM CDT
One person suffered head lacerations early today after an animal, likely a small bear, attacked him in a tent in Itasca State Park in northwestern Minnesota, authorities said.
The person was treated for about a half-dozen two-inch lacerations at a Park Rapids hospital and released, according to Clearwater County Sheriff Mike Erickson.
The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. as a group of people were sleeping at a park campsite. The person who was attacked, a man believed to be in his mid-20s, was sleeping in a tent away from the others, according to Erickson.
Erickson said authorities haven't concluded yet what type of animal was involved, but believe it was a bear, and not a cougar.
"It appears to me a possibly small bear, out of curiosity, stuck his paws in the tent and raked them across the side of his head,'' Erickson said. "It wasn't a vicious attack by any means.
"It was like a kitten batting a little ball around,'' he added. "If the animal wanted to do damage, it would have been worse.''
He said the man was sleeping in a two-person domed tent. "He was in a sleeping bag, and the head was the only thing exposed,'' Erickson said.
Authorities said early indications are that the group consisted of some college students and at least one teacher.
Bear attacks are rare in Minnesota and the incident, if confirmed to involve a bear, would be the first one Erickson said he's heard of in the area.
With a continuing drought up north cutting into
natural food sources such as nuts and berries, authorities have received more reports this year of bears prowling around looking for food.
"We get more animals coming into town than we have had in the past,'' Erickson said.
Campers always are advised to keep food that can attract bears away from sleeping areas. Erickson said the person who was injured didn't have any food in his tent.
He said the area around Itasca State Park, between Park Rapids and Bemidji, has many signs warning people not to leave food around for animals such as raccoons and bears.
Dennis Lien can be reached at [email protected] or 651-228-5588.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html
