Sabian Warren

swarren@citizen-times.com

ROBBINSVILLE – U.S. Forest Service officials say they won't pursue criminal charges against bear hunters whose hounds attacked and injured a hiker and her dogs.

The harrowing, 45-minute attack happened on Oct. 13, the opening day of bear season, in the Snowbird area of the Nantahala National Forest in Graham County.

Kadie Anderson, a 29-year-old visitor from Cleveland, suffered bite wounds to her hands and legs as she fought to protect her two Australian shepherds. The dogs were seriously injured but are expected to recover.

"At this point, it looks like it's more of a civil matter instead of a criminal case where federal laws were broken," Forest Service spokesman Stevin Westcott said Monday. "It appears that no federal laws were broken. It's an unfortunate accident, and it's sad that it happened."

Anderson reported the incident to the Graham County Sheriff's Office, but she said Sheriff Mickey Anderson told her any charges would have to be brought by the Forest Service.

"I was told by the sheriff this was not their jurisdiction," Kadie Anderson said. "He said it's up to the ranger to press charges."

The sheriff could not be reached for comment Monday.

Anderson said she does not know the hunters' names.

Friends have set up a Facebook page, Justice for Kadie, calling for authorities to find the men and file charges. Friends also have set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for veterinary expenses and for a reward for identifying the hunters.

"I just want to raise awareness that this could happen," Anderson said. "It's not happening all the time, but it can happen. People need to be prepared to protect themselves."

She said she was unaware that bear hunting season opened on Oct. 13. The bear hounds were in an area that is open to hunting.

The attack

Anderson, an experienced hiker and camper, was making her first trip to Western North Carolina, a three-day weekend that started Oct. 11.

She camped with friends from the area that Saturday night at a campground on Santeetlah Lake, then extended the trip by backpacking into the Snowbird area, off Cherohala Skyway, alone on Sunday.

She was packing up her tent to leave when the attack happened on the morning of Oct. 13. About a dozen bear hounds, most of them appearing to be Plott hound mixes, approached the camp. Anderson had heard them coming and grabbed both of her dogs by their collars.

About half of the hounds participated in the attack, Anderson said. She thought the hunters would be close behind the dogs, but it would be 45 minutes before the men arrived.

"I kept thinking they would be here soon, but it just kept going on and on," Anderson said. "It was pretty terrifying."

Anderson fought the hounds off with a tent stake and a stick, trying to shield her dogs with her body. She had a can of pepper spray in her tent, but couldn't get to it. Finn, a 2-year-old male who's been deaf since birth, was nearly killed, she said, suffering deep wounds on his back, side and rump. Loki, an 8-year-old female, suffered gashes to her stomach.

When the hunters finally arrived – six men – they got the hounds under control and helped Anderson pack up her gear. One of the men carried her pack as they walked three miles back to her car. But the men did not offer to get medical help, and left quickly when Anderson reached her car.

Her dogs were covered in blood, but they managed to limp back to the car. Anderson said she was so worried about her dogs she didn't think to ask the men their names.

She took the dogs to a veterinarian in Robbinsville, where they received treatment, then she made the 9.5-hour drive back to Cleveland.

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission bear biologist Mike Carraway, who's based in WNC, called the attack by bear hounds unusual.

"I've never run into this type of situation," Carraway said. "Bear dogs are generally interested in bears, and that's it."

The Forest Service's Westcott reminds everyone who visits the forest in the busy autumn period to be mindful of others and keep safety a priority.

"We just encourage hunters and non-hunters to do what they can to keep themselves safe," he said.

WNC bear hunting season

First segment, Oct. 13 to Nov. 22

Second segment, Dec. 15 to Jan. 1

Hunting is not allowed on Sundays.

Source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission