Dec10
Woman Bitten by Bear in Cherokee Bear Pit
Posted at 02:15 PM | Permalink
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Comments (19)
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A 75-year-old woman who is a "caretaker" at Chief Saunooke Bear Park (one of the concrete bear pits in Cherokee, North Carolina) was bitten by a bear earlier this week. The bear grabbed her coat through the cage as she and her son, who owns the facility, were giving the animals water. She suffered a serious injury to her arm and lacerations near her mouth and hairline.
Neurotic and hungry, the bears who are imprisoned in the Cherokee pits exhibit unnatural behavior such as pacing and begging as a means of coping with life inside a concrete pit. In this dismal environment, they are unable to forage for food, explore their surroundings, create dens, or receive any of the necessary stimulation and enrichment that bears in captivity require.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investigating the recent attack, and we've asked the agency to revoke the facility's license, but we won't rest until we see these bears retired to sanctuaries. Luckily, we've got some compassionate star power behind us. Bob Barker, friend to animals and proud descendent of Native Americans, has worked tirelessly to shut down the hideous bear pits—from meeting with the Tribal Council for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to advocating for the bears' freedom in the blogosphere. Help Bob Barker end the suffering by urging the USDA to close Chief Saunooke's cruel bear prison immediately.
Posted by Logan Scherer
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Comments
How on earth could a 75 year old still be a "caretaker"?!
Posted by: Aneliese | December 10, 2009 02:36 PM
oh the irony
Posted by: killerpriest | December 10, 2009 02:41 PM
You know, except for the swimming pool in the middle of it, that pit bears an uncanny resemblence to the pit in Buffalo Bill's basement in "Silence Of The Lambs."
Oh, and my aunt is 75 years old and works as a caretaker for children after school.
Some of us, unfortunatley, will never be able to retire.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | December 10, 2009 06:37 PM
Too bad he didn't eat her.
Posted by: Karmah | December 10, 2009 07:42 PM
I'm struggling to find any sympathy for such a callous old fool. Maybe she and her equally as uncaring offspring will have second thoughts about their involvement in mistreating these beautiful creatures.
Posted by: Bluebell | December 10, 2009 07:47 PM
Bless the beasts, the chidren and the elderly. Both the bear and the caretaker are victims of a fallen and corrupt society.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | December 10, 2009 08:40 PM
"bear pit" awful, bears should be free and wild!
Posted by: candice | December 10, 2009 10:21 PM
so sorry for the bears in that pit. set them FREE!!!
Posted by: wes | December 10, 2009 11:17 PM
What kind of loser tourist still thinks this activity is worth spending money on??
Posted by: Kelley | December 11, 2009 10:18 AM
Oh well... Karma'a a bitch. Too bad it wasn't more serious. The poor bear.. when will humans learn???
Posted by: carla | December 11, 2009 11:39 AM
Aww, poor bear!
Posted by: firegem123 | December 11, 2009 01:39 PM
How in the world could you resist to help these animals? I only wish they knew their true power...
Posted by: Terra | December 17, 2009 05:38 PM
This Bear PIT is such a horrible and dismal place :( It saddens me further that it is on a reservation of Native Americans that once HONORED the animal kingdom :( I for one cant WAIT to see this MONSTROSITY be shut down forever!!!
Posted by: Sharon Byron | December 17, 2009 09:22 PM
Yes... the bears need to be set free NOW... this is so insane that this is happening.
Posted by: Marina | December 17, 2009 11:25 PM
a bear pit!?when the hell did they start making these things!!??? Lets put her in a PIT!
Posted by: mamagomes | December 18, 2009 12:12 AM
By the time humans learn, we will have lost a few more to these kind of attacks. Maybe then they will aquire some common sense!!
Posted by: Athena Savva | December 18, 2009 06:48 AM
Bears are beautiful wild animals, how can you treat them as toys or kittens,and keep him/her in such a small pit, it's obvious he/she reacted in such an aggressive way.
It's a miracle the old lady is still alive ! ... Take bears back to their wild lands where they belong.
Posted by: Angela | December 18, 2009 10:05 AM
I'll tell you, if I could personally hurt some of these people I watch on the PETA sight I would do it. These people are a bunch of sick bastards who deserve to get back what they give!! I have NO sorrow for anyone who abuses animals. They are the worst kind of people and should be listed with rapists,child sexual abusers,and murderers.
Posted by: Merryl | December 19, 2009 05:31 PM
OMG i was just there bc i had a softball turnament there and we went to that exact place i remember seeing THAT exact bear that is strange
Posted by: Maggie Huffman | January 30, 2010 02:56 PM