Re: Man Bitten By Bear Near Mist Falls In Kings Canyon

A 65-year-old man was bitten by a bear in Kings Canyon National Park on the afternoon of Thursday, September 6th. The man had been sleeping on a rock near Mist Falls, a four-mile hike from Roads End in Cedar Grove. He was awakened by other visitors who were yelling to him to warn him that he was being approached by a bear. As he sat up, the bear bit his right thigh, causing numerous puncture wounds. The man yelled and swatted the bear, but the bear did not leave the immediate area. Several people helped scare it away. Ten days before the incident, warning signs were posted at the Roads End Ranger Station following reports of a small bear approaching people near Mist Falls. Wilderness rangers looked for the bear on several occasions, but could not find it. On Saturday, this yearling female bear was found, tranquilized and euthanized by bear management staff. The man’s injury was treated by park medics at Roads End. He then went to Sierra Kings Hospital for further treatment.

Oh my. He must have been in a very deep sleep. I hope his injuries aren't too severe.

He probably fell asleep on the granite open area below mist falls, where the rapids are. It's a nice place to take a nap. I can picture someone falling asleep deeply there, even in low water time. Mist Fall is too damp to get into the lucid zone. I'm surprised the squirrels and chipmunks didn't get to him sooner tho

Wasn't the bear merely doing the ranger's job? I.e., enforcing the "No Parking Zone" between Roads End and Lower Paradise Valley.



Post Edited (09-21-07 12:13)

---

THE YOSEMITE POST
Voice of the Rocky Marmot Empire