Two Boys boy got thrashed in their tents by a young black bear at a New Jersey state forest. Both of the boys were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
@WiL
The 11-year-old was snoozing at a campsite at Stokes State Forest in Sussex County in the northwestern part of the state, when the black bear intruded and attacked, officials said.
After the attack, the bear lumbered off, made his way to a second tent–and lunged at a 12-year-old boy from Jersey City, the state Department of Environmental Protection reported.
“This happens very infrequently,” said Larry Ragonese, a DEP spokesman. “It’s the first bear attack against a person in the state this year.”
One boy suffered a scratch and the other a puncture wound, although officials did not say which boy was injured in what manner.
They were both taken to a local hospital and treated, officials said.
The boys, and seven other youngsters, were part of a youth camping group chaperoned by two adult counselors. Once the bear attacked, the adults shepherded their charges into a partially-enclosed cabin, and made noises to scare away the bear.
When state conservation officers arrived, they found the bear still at the campsite.
The bear was shot, but scurried away into the woods, Ragonefe said.
“They’re in the woods now, tracking the bear with blood-sniffing dogs,” he added. “The bear will be shot and killed when found because it’s considered an aggressive animal toward humans.”
The names of the two wounded boys were not released by authorities.
