Description
This is a followup to the note I sent last month regarding bear population and parks/trails in Windsor. A friend sent this note today, he lives in Simsbury.
Well went on an impulse bike ride today,with water bottle and cell phone, out of my driveway. Went up Westledge, a ride in itself and then at the top continued into the woods on Westledge trail (dirt). Went to the bottom where it turns sharp right and decided to go on old trail on the left. It used to be a stagecoach road. I wanted to explore an ancient culver and some stone dams and diversions along a brook. Lots of signs of old industry (17th century) Hid the bike and started to walk, and immediately saw a bear 300 feet away... It's one thing to have them in your driveway where you can gape at them through your windows, but an entirely different thing to be alone in the woods with no resources. He was unaware of me but by chance it turned and slowly started ambling right at me...Chit I screamed inside and stealthily picked up the bike and slowly made my way to the trail. I kept looking back and had thoughts of it stalking me just waiting for the right time to have some geezer flesh.. At the trail I decided to go off trail and do a hike that I have wanted to do for some time. It involved dragging the bike through the woods, brambles , rocks Hills and whatnot. I wanted to see if I could find any old trails that connected the Westledge area with Broadhill in Granby, due north, that also has lots of old human habitatation.. I had GPS but I kept veering off and eventually decided to not continue that quest but to get to Firetown road to the East. I took bearings on my phone many times and finally I was on a hill and decided where to go.. The next time I went to take my bearings, my phone was missing @$)@^$(@$^@......Now what.. I retraced my steps to where I thought I had taken last bearings.. no phone.. managed to get back to bike and then retraced.... no phone, did that 4 times in the woods and underbrush and just as I was about to give it up, I found it. WHEW! I had been lost in woods with no GPS and only a general idea of the way out.. Then I couldn't find my bike even tho I had found it 3 times before! Finally I did, and from there I managed to make my way out to Firetown Road.. Ride home was nice
12 Comments
Town of Windsor, CT (Verified Official)
Helene Albert - Town Manager’s Office (Verified Official)
Mark Francis - Police Department (Registered User)
Closed Mark Francis - Police Department (Registered User)
Reopened Mary Ann Overbaugh (Guest)
Mary Ann Overbaugh (Guest)
Mary Ann Overbaugh (Guest)
Mary Ann Overbaugh (Guest)
Mary Ann Overbaugh (Guest)
Police say five friends from Edison were hiking in the Apshawa Preserve when they encountered the bear at approximately 3:44 p.m. They say the group ran in different directions, but noticed Darsh Patel was missing when they regrouped.
SAFETY TIPS: Click here for tips on what to do if you encounter a bear
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Officers from the West Milford Police Department and West Milford Search and Rescue unit began searching for the missing hiker. The search team located Patel's body at about 5:54 p.m.
"Evidence at the scene indicated that the victim had been attacked by a bear," police said in a news release early Monday. The bear was located and euthanized at the scene.
Patel was an IT student at Rutgers. In a statement, the university says, "As we grieve over his tragic passing, please know that our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones and to all his friends and fellow students at Rutgers."
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection officials say bear attacks are unusual, but are often the result of the animals looking for food. "While there are occasional aggressive actions by bears in New Jersey, what happened this week is not a typical event" says Larry Ragonese. "In fact, there have been no previous fatal attacks by bears in New Jersey in recent history."
The DEP says there is currently a food shortage, which may have led to a rise in bear sightings.
State wildlife officials are assisting with the investigation. The bear will undergo a necropsy to determine if it had rabies or another disease that may have caused it to become aggressive.
The Apshawa Preserve is a 576-acre natural area used for hiking and bird watching.
Closed Mark Francis - Police Department (Registered User)
For any animal complaints/information please contact Windosr Police Department's APO Brian Davis at (860) 688-4545 ext. 556. In the case of an immediate emergency with the potential of harm or life being at risk contact the Windsor PD via. 911.
In all endeavors (particularly when hiking nature trails) exercise good judgement and have a plan for the dangers we face when we as humans encounter threats of nature.
Reopened maoverbaugh (Guest)
Closed Brian Funk - Public Works (Registered User)