A black bear suspected of being the one that attacked a man in the Red River Gorge June 26 was spotted around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Beattyville in Lee County.
"We're continuing to patrol that area," said Steve Dobey, a black-bear biologist with the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We have high hopes that the bear will present itself."
He said the bear seems to be attracted to an open Dumpster, and that's the area where officials are focusing their efforts.
Officials have been searching in Lee County since last week. A bear matching the description of the one that attacked Tim Scott of Springfield on the Pinch-Em Tight trail was seen last Wednesday and Thursday.
The Red River Gorge was closed last week, and traps were set but, after it appeared that the bear had moved on, the traps were removed, and the gorge reopened Friday.
If officials capture the bear, it will be checked for identifying marks, and its claws might be tested for human blood or tissue to determine whether it was the one that attacked Scott.
If it is, Dobey has said, it will be euthanized.
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