AN INCIDENT LAST WEEK IN CLOUDCROFT IS DRIVING HOME THE POINT THAT IT’S UNWISE TO FEED BEARS IN THE WILD. A MAN WAS ATTACKED AND INJURED BY A BEAR THAT HE ROUTINELY FED. TRISTANNA BICKFORD WITH THE STATE GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE MAN WOULD GIVE FOOD TO A NUMBER OF BEARS. THEIR REPORT SHOWS AT LEAST FOUR BEARS WERE COMING IN FOR FOOD ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BICKFORD SAYS ALL FOUR BEARS WOULD HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED BECAUSE THEY’D BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO HUMANS AND POSED A SAFETY RISK. SHE ALSO SAYS THIS SUMMER HASN’T BEEN QUITE AS BUSY FOR BEAR ACTIVITY AS THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SINCE, FOR THE MOST PART, THERE’S ADEQUATE FOOD IN THE MOUNTAINS.
