On Dec. 9 a black bear fell out of a tree in Lunenburg County and struck a 58-year-old man, who was hospitalized. He died from his accidents 4 days later, the Virginia Division of Wildlife Assets confirmed to Out of doors Life.
The hunter was recognized as Lester Clayton Harvey, Jr. of Phenix. A VDWR spokeswoman mentioned a bunch of hunters reportedly treed the bear after which stepped out from beneath its branches. One in all Harvey’s companions, VDWR confirms, shot the bear whereas Harvey was standing roughly 10 ft from the bottom of the trunk. VDWR confirmed the company just isn’t in search of any expenses associated to the incident presently.
A Fb submit from his spouse famous that Harvey “wasn’t doing something unsuitable he was simply getting his canine!”
The precise nature of the accident is unclear, together with how giant the bear was, what accidents Harvey sustained, or if he misplaced consciousness on affect. One in all his searching companions instantly started administering first support. The VDWR was alerted in regards to the accident at roughly 9:50 a.m.
After native fireplace division and EMS personnel arrived on the scene, Harvey was transported by floor to VCU Well being Group Memorial Hospital in South Hill, a city in neighboring Mecklenburg County. He was later relocated to Richmond’s VCU Medical Middle some 80 miles away. He handed away within the crucial care unit Friday.
A self-employed contractor, Harvey was described as an avid outdoorsman and “a good friend to all [who] by no means met a stranger” in his obituary. He’s survived by his spouse, April, 5 youngsters, and eight grandchildren. In response to Harvey’s Fb profile, he was a houndsman, bear hunter, and muscle automobile aficiando.
“I went from having one of the best husband and a person that beloved me a lot and a person I beloved with my coronary heart and soul to being a widow at 48 years outdated. It’s not honest….” April Daybreak Harvey wrote in a Fb submit the day after Harvey’s loss of life. “…I’m making an attempt so laborious to maintain my religion in God however this has destroyed my life so it’s actually form of laborious! You had been one of the best husband! I really like you a lot and can the remainder of my life!”
Learn Subsequent: After a Failed Compromise, Virginia Landowners Will Now Push for a Full Ban on Deer and Bear Searching with Hounds
Though operating hounds could be a contentious concern amongst locals, Virginia’s bear searching laws enable for bear searching with hounds in the course of the firearms season in restricted components of the state, together with Lunenburg County, on every single day apart from Sunday. Final 12 months, almost 75 % of all black bears in Virginia had been taken utilizing hounds, based on the VDWR.
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