No Explanation for Bear Mauling and Human Consumption at Campground
Seventy Page Report Just Released on Soda Butte Bear Attack
The attack occurred in the Gallatin National Forest, Soda Butte Campground which is located just outside of Yellowstone National Park's North East gate. Early in the morning a mother bear and her three yearling cubs walked into the campground of twenty-four occupied sites. They began to tear apart a tent and bite a gentleman in his leg. He punched the bear repeatedly in the nose and drove the animal off.
Then they went to the next tent where a woman was bitten on her arms and legs. She feigned sleep to ward off the attack. When the bears left she began to scream alerting the other campers of the attack. The next attack was at a tent pitched about 180 feet from the other campers.
The third attack that morning was fatal. Mr. Kevin Kramer was camping by himself when the bears tore into his tent and dragged him about ten yards. The bears killed and partially consumed him. In each instance the bears tore into the tents to get at the humans.
A necropsy was performed and revealed the bears had been eating a vegetarian diet. They were slightly underweight but nothing uncommon for the region. Further tests revealed no reason for the unprovoked attacks.
The campground was found to be clean and all the campers' food safely stowed away in their vehicles. There was no evidence that the bears had found garbage or human food in the campground at anytime during 2010. Although there had been a couple sightings of a mother bear and her three cubs prior to the attack.
This was not the first unprovoked grizzly bear attack in the Soda Butte campground. On July 20, 2008, a man was attacked as he attempted to unzip his tent in the morning. There are many similarities to this last attack in that there was no food present and the bear was unaccustomed to finding food in the campground. The 2008 camper made a full recovery after surgery.
Most bear encounters are avoidable when visiting the Yellowstone National Park area. The best advice is to be aware and informed of bear activity in the areas you are in. Follow the ranger's recommendations and instructions when hiking, camping, or picnicking. You cannot prevent a random attack but there are many things you can do to avoid a provoked encounter with a grizzly.
Published by Kent Hadley
A writer of the true and untrue. A teller of tales and sharer of recipes. A political addict. A husband, father, grandfather, dog friend, traveler, roamer, and person liker. A Bear's fan, Buck's fan, Badger... View profile
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- Bear attacks can be random.
- Some bear attacks can be avoided.
- Bear encounters are normal in the Yellowstone region.