Bear Bedfellow - Ponderosa Campground 5-31-12

[skatchkins]

Arizona campground closed after bear attacks woman

Arizona campground closed after bear attacks woman
by Jim Cross/KTAR (May 31st, 2012 @ 2:34pm)
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An Arizona campground will be closed until the end of August due to a bear attacking a 74-year-old Apache Junction woman.

The attack happened about 4:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Ponderosa Campground, about 10 miles east of Payson. The bear clawed its way through a tent and came in contact with the woman.

Jim Paxon with Arizona Game and Fish said the campground has been closed while the search is on for the bear.

"This bear poses a threat to public safety so we will lethally remove this bear," he said.

The victim was treated at Payson Regional Medical Center for non-threatening injuries and released. The woman's husband and dog were not hurt. Paxon said the victim didn't do anything to cause the attack.

"They did everything right," he said. "They didn't have any food in the tent."

With Arizona now in its 20th year of drought, the bears are desperately searching for food and water.

Tonto National Forest officials said an area closure order is effective beginning at 2:30 p.m. Thursday until August 31, or until the bear is found.

A Gilbert woman died last year several weeks after she was attacked by a bear in Pinetop

[The_Eagle]

[chumley]

Just one of the many reasons I don't camp in campgrounds.

[te_wa]

With Arizona now in its 20th year of drought, the bears are desperately searching for food and water.

this statement made even tho a) bears' daily travels can easily include mileage up to 20 per day, and b) ponderosa is so close to thompson draw (creek)! there is perrenial water within several minutes (tonto creek, for one). this statement makes little sense-and it's misleading. that is to say as well, a bear could easily travel to any number of populated areas within a few hours. this bear, unless captured, could cause a ruckus at kohl's ranch or tonto village or tonto campground... either jim cross or jim paxon have made a comment that won't fly with the educated HAZ crowd. sorry, try again. my 2¢

[paulhubbard]

The answer? (note the last line)

Bears love babies...

[chumley]

Having never camped at Ponderosa, I can't say for sure, but I don't think there are any bear proof containers/canisters anywhere on Tonto. Or Coconino or A-S for that matter. The only place I've seen them is Coronado (in AZ).

[big_load]

The article didn't mention whether there was food or other smellables in the tent.

[Alston_Neal]

I predict a camper in this couple's future. This should boost RV sales.

[chumley]

I love the news media. Huffpost:

[Tough_Boots]

@Alston Neal
probably just an increase in firearms. Between zombies and bears, I see a shotgun shortage happening in the near future

[Alston_Neal]

@big_load
Smellables......It's always a good thing to learn a new word a day. ;)

[Nighthiker]

Stayed at Ponderosa in the past, best campsites were located in the SW area of the campground but now that area has been made into a group camp site. When I first started camping in Arizona and there was a problem bear, they brought in a bear trap made out of a large metal culvert.

[JimmyLyding]

I'm beginning to wonder if the current "drought" in Arizona should be viewed as the new normal.
Bears in Arizona have it pretty rough. Perhaps the bear-in-question started coming to the campground out of desperation, perhaps people either fed it or improperly disposed of trash. None of that matters because the bear has to be permanently removed.

[azbackpackr]

Glad I bought myself a bear canister last year. I may start using it in the A bar S.

[chumley]

Ponderosa Campground reopened today, despite the bear not having been found and eliminated.

There has been no sign of the bear since the attack, so they deemed the campground safe again.

Either that or the vendor losing money on camping fees put pressure on the FS to reopen

[chumley]

He's baaaaaaaack!

Bear traps are being set up near Payson after a man sleeping in an under-construction cabin was bitten on the calf Friday morning, an attack that may be linked to an attack a month ago, authorities said.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... z1yYcnPR00

[Tough_Boots]

I'm blaming it on bath salts.

[paulhubbard]

I'm blaming it on Al Gore.

[outdoor_lover]

@paulhubbard

[chumley]

The AZGFD press release on the Tonto NF website says that one bear was "dispatched" near Tonto Village at 9pm Saturday 6/23.

AZCentral is reporting that two bears were killed by AZGFD on Sunday night. One near Ponderosa Campground, and another in Hellsgate Wilderness.

The one that attacked a man Sunday morning at Ponderosa was also shot by another camper at close range with a 9mm handgun, but was not killed, and left the area.

It is currently unknown if any of the 3 bears killed were responsible for any of the attacks. But DNA testing is being done to try to link them.

One female, one grown male, and a yearling male are the three bears that have been killed by AZGFD.