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Tenn. authorities hunt for bear that killed girl, mauled her family

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 15, 2006

BENTON, Tenn. - Authorities put out traps baited with honey buns and doughnuts Friday in hopes of capturing a black bear that killed a 6-year-old girl and mauled her mother and 2-year-old brother.

It was only the second documented attack on a human by a black bear in modern Tennessee history, said state Wildlife Resources Agency spokesman Dan Hicks.

"There is a chance that the same bear would attack someone else, so I hope they do catch him," said Lynn Rogers of the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minn.

Susan Cenkus, 45, of Clyde, Ohio, remained listed in critical condition at a Chattanooga hospital after trying to protect her children from the bear. Luke Cenkus, who had a bite wound to the head that punctured his skull, remained in stable condition.

The daughter, Elora Petrasek, was found dead farther down the trail with the bear standing over her after her mother and brother were attacked.

Black bears generally avoid humans, animal experts said. Rangers at the Cherokee National Forest, where the attack took place Thursday, said a disease, tumor or parasite might have made the animal more aggressive.

The 350- to 400-pound bear attacked the family at a waterfall near a campground after several adult visitors tried to drive it off the trail, Hicks said.

The bear bit the boy's head, then went after his mother after she tried to fend off the attack with rocks and sticks, Hicks said. The animal picked up the woman with its mouth and dragged her off the trail.

The girl ran away, and about an hour later was found with the bear hovering over her body, Hicks said. A rescuer fired a shot that scared the animal off, Hicks said. Authorities said they do not know whether it was wounded.

Dogs failed to pick up the bear's trail in an overnight search, and authorities set out traps in the 1,000-acre area around the attack site.

Authorities have not been able to talk to the mother because of her injuries. "She may not remember the attack at all," Hicks said.

Rogers, the bear expert, said there have been only 56 documented killings of humans by black bears in North America in the past 100 years. Rogers said the current population of black bears in North America is about 750,000.

Authorities at the Cherokee National Forest said that if the animal is captured it will be euthanized so tests can be done to determine if it was ill.

"We may never find it," Hicks said. "It may be on the top of another mountain by now."

The attack occurred 10 miles from the nearest highway. The national forest covers 1,000 square miles along the Tennessee-North Carolina line.

[Last modified April 15, 2006, 00:53:01]