Campers Startled by Attack

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By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Jul 29, 2010 at 6:43 AM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 29, 2010 at 6:43 AM MDT

COOKE CITY - It is the peak of the tourism season in Cooke City and dozens of campers were at Soda Butte Campground when the attack happened.

Ted and Connie Ihringer are traveling the country on their motorcycle.
"We're just touring the area," Ted said. "We were in Yellowstone."

Connie had one fear about the trip.
"I have this fear of bears and being attacked," she said.

On Wednesday morning that fear became a reality.
"I was awake when the park ranger came and he just said, 'Is anybody there?' and I said, 'Yes.' He told us, not in a real excited voice, but he said that two people had been attacked by the bear and that they were informing anybody in a soft sided tent about that and I just got up and got clothes on and I said, 'Let's get out of here.'"

"When Connie said, 'Let's get dressed and get out of here,' I was all for it," Ted said.

The bear attacked a camp just two sites away from Ted and Connie's site; a little too close to comfort for Connie.
"It was like my worst fear coming true," she said.

The gates to Soda Butte Campground were closed after the attack. Officials let campers in one at a time to gather their supplies Wednesday afternoon.

As officials leave out traps for the bear, Ted and Connie said they would plan their trips a little different in the future.
"We'll think twice about where we camp I guess and just be careful," Connie said.

Officials say this was a very unusual attack that could rewrite everything we know about bear attacks.

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