Burnie the Bear Mauls Two More Hikers; Remains at Large
Forest protection mascot described as 'unprovoked' by witness; Parks Department says Burnie is 'doing his job'
By Margaret Huang
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Burnie the Bear, New Newmanton's official forest protection mascot and a fixture of the commonwealth's public lands awareness campaign since 2011, mauled two hikers on the Ridgeback Trail in Anaweh State Forest on Saturday afternoon before departing the scene under his own power. A third hiker who escaped without injury told responding officers that the attack was entirely unprovoked, describing Burnie as having emerged from the tree line "with intention." Burnie remains at large as of press time.
The two injured hikers, whose names have not been released, were transported to New Newmanton General Hospital with injuries the facility characterized as "consistent with a significant wildlife encounter." Saturday's incident is the second mauling attributed to Burnie in the past six weeks; the first, in which a solo hiker on the North Rim Loop sustained injuries described by the Parks Department as "minor relative to the overall message," was closed without a formal review after Burnie's handler noted that the hiker had been carrying a single-use plastic water bottle.
AGENCY RESPONSE
A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Parks and Recreation Department said the agency was "aware of the situation" and emphasized that Burnie's core mandate — protecting New Newmanton's forested areas from improper use — "remains both valid and actively ongoing." The Parks Department declined to comment on whether the Ridgeback Trail hikers had been in violation of any posted regulations, citing an open review, but noted that the trail had recently had its litter fine increased to $400.
COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE
"He's never mauled anyone who didn't have it coming, in a general sense," said Terrence Obi, a Gnu resident who has volunteered at three Burnie-related public awareness events. Obi was not present on Saturday. Trail access has been reduced to posted hours pending what the Parks Department described as a "scheduled reassessment of visitor compliance culture." Burnie has not returned to his handler's facility on Millbrook Road since Thursday.
