park rangers responding to bear attack on child

published: August 11 2008 10:38 PM updated:: August 13 2008 10:37 AM

G reat Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers are investigating a bear attack on a child that was reported at about 7:30 this evening near the Rainbow Falls Trail.
Eight year-old Evan Pala, of Boca Raton, FL was playing along LeConte Creek about 300 yards up Rainbow Falls Trail from the trailhead when he was reportedly attacked twice by a bear. The boy suffered non-life-threatening cuts, scratches and puncture wounds. The boy’s father, John Pala, also of Boca Raton was able to drive off the animal with sticks and rocks, but sustained some minor injuries himself.
The boy was transported by Gatlinburg Ambulance to Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center in Sevierville TN and the father drove to the same facility for treatment.
Based upon the father’s description of the bear and the location, Rangers went to the scene and encountered a bear that acted aggressively towards them as well. They shot the bear. They did locate a child’s shoe and a cap at the sight that they believe belonged to the family.
Park Wildlife Management personnel also responded. They described the bear as an estimated 55 pound male – probably a yearling. The animal was transported to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center for a necropsy to establish that it is the bear that attacked the child.
No names or home town are available for release at this time.
Rainbow Falls Trail is very popular hiking trail located off Cherokee Orchard Road about 2.5 miles south of Gatlinburg TN.

User Comments

#1 pam ewen commented, on August 13, 2008 at 1:55 p.m.:

i visit gatlinburg once a monthin the last 4 yers. i own a cabin there and i have noticed this last year the differnce in the bears. they have walked up my steps to my porch on a few different occations, they swim in the pool which is for paying guests, we have seen them cross the roads - our garbage is invaded nightly. this seems to be a problem and i hope the professionals get a handle on this or i will be selling my cabin.......

#2 Jellystone Park commented, on August 13, 2008 at 8:28 p.m.:

My gawd! The mere thought of these scofflaw bears crashing the gate and swimming in the pool, and not paying! Jaywalking,too. Going through your garbage, The nerve! I say I would definitely call a professional to see what it is with these hoodlum bears. Maybe talk strongly to them and tell em' to knock it off!

#3 Margaret commented, on August 14, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.:

I've spent most of my life living in the Smokies about 15 miles from gatlinburg. The problem isn't the bears, it's people. I'm not saying the little boy or his father are at fault, the problem has always been that people go to the mountains & have no respect for the animals there. They try to treat them like overgrown house pets. Soon the bears begin to loose their fear of humans and the bear then pays the ultimate price. This was a yearling, he should still be with his mother. He has either been orpaned or learned, like many of the park animals, to look at humans as a source of food.