Officials hunt bear believed responsible for attack in Gorge

Officials hunt bear believed responsible for attack in Gorge

Officials hunt bear believed responsible for attack in Gorge

Search continues for bear wanted for attacking hiker - Tuesday update

Search continues for bear as more pictures and sightings pour in

Search continues for bear as more pictures and sightings pour in

Black bear spotted near dumpster

6/30 Afternoon UPDATE:
Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife confirm the black bear they've been searching for since a hiker was attacked Sunday in the Red River Gorge may have been spotted Wednesday morning in city limits in Beattyville in Lee County. The bear was reportedly near some dumpsters. We're told officials confirmed from the tracks that it likely is the bear in question.

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6/30 Morning UPDATE:
As wildlife officials continue to search for a bear that attacked a man in the Red River Gorge, they're also dealing with a new problem. Three people, ages 19 to 20, were arrested in Menifee County for stealing warning signs.

Wildlife officials say the signs, which told people that certain areas of the park were closed due to the bear attack, had been stolen on several occasions. Park officials tell 27 NEWSFIRST, the three endangered the lives of people in the park by taking the signs.

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Wildlife officials were back in the Red River Gorge Tuesday, looking for a bear that attacked a hiker Sunday. The victim encountered the bear while hiking near Grays Bridge in Wolfe County. Official are warning others in the area to be extra careful while they try to track the bear down.

They say one of the most important tools they have in their search is pictures taken by those who have seen bears in the area.

Two people, Kerry Shaw, the owner of the Sky Lift, a chair lift used to take people to the Natural Bridge, and Stephanie Fields, an employee of the Sky Lift both have different pictures of a recent bear sighting.

While experts continue to track the bear they use the pictures for guides, saying they are helpful when setting traps.

Gates are closed around Red River Gorge and Park rangers have the entrances closed for safety as search crews look for the bear. Officials with the Daniel Boone National Forest say park rangers have evacuated campers and hikers from the Gorge. Some trails at Natural Bridge State Park are also closed to the public but the park, itself, is open.

Monday night the victim, Tim Scott, spoke to 27 NEWSFIRST about the frightening ordeal. He said when he first saw the bear he thought to take pictures, but when the bear returned, Scott realized he was in trouble. "This bear kept following me. I realized I was probably going to need some sort of a weapon," Scott said. He says the bear eventually grabbed him by his thigh. 'At that point, he was on me. He made a couple of trial bites at the backs of my legs and settled on the back of my right thigh. I was screaming all through this stuff trying to extract him, trying to do anything."

Scott continued to call for help when more hikers arrived. "The bear was on me, teeth sunk deep into the back of my thigh, and he was shaking me the way a dog shakes a toy," Scott said. Another hiker hit the bear with a backpack while others screamed for help. The bear continued to follow the entire group until he slowly backed away and left.

No word on when officials plan to re-open the park, or what they will do with the bear once it's captured.