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A Campbell Co. man is hospitalized after he was attacked by an animal overnight. Investigators believe it was a bear, and are searching for it.
A Campbell County man was sent to the University of Tennessee Medical Center on Friday morning after he was attacked by a "large animal with dark coarse hair."

Michael Savage, 27, of LaFollette sustained "severe and significant injuries," according to Sheriff Robbie Goins. A spokesperson with the University of Tennessee Medical Center said Savage was in stable condition.

Matthew Cameron with TWRA said at a news conference Friday afternoon that authorities could not confirm the animal was a bear. Cameron said the man doesn't know what attacked him.


The large animal attacked Savage in the White Bridge Park area sometime between 2 and 5 a.m. Friday morning. He said he was walking from a friend's house when the attack happened. Savage walked several miles after he was injured and it was after 6 a.m. before authorities were notified.

Goins said citizens in the area should be aware and extremely cautious for the presence of a bear in Lonas Young White Bridge Park area.

Cameron said bear traps would be brought into the area, and if the bear is caught it will be euthanized.

Cameron said bear sightings are very common, and not out of the ordinary.

Campbell County mayor E.L. Morton advised traveling with a friend when outside at the park.

Original Story:

We're working to gather more information about an bear attack in Campbell County.

Disptatchers said a man reported he was attacked by an animal around 6:20 a.m. Friday in the White Bridge area of LaFollette. That's off Demory Road near Lonas Young Park. The man could not give an exact location. He was transported to UT Medical Center for treatment.

Dispatchers could not verify what kind of animal attacked the man.