Posted on 09/08/2023 6:42:54 AM PDT by SJackson
Wildlife officials are once again urging people in Sevier County to keep their distance from bears after a concerning video from Gatlinburg over the weekend.
The video shot on Sept. 3 in downtown Gatlinburg shows people getting a little too close for comfort to a black bear.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency says there are proper steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation.
While spotting a bear in Downtown Gatlinburg is not uncommon, TWRA spokesperson Matt Cameron said some of the people in the video were dangerously close.
“When they started approaching it and chasing it with the camera and all that, it really put them in a dangerous situation,” Cameron said.
He said that this is the time of year when you’ll see more bears as they look for excess food and prepare for hibernation season.
“Other than it being in the middle of town, it acted normal to me. Once again, it was looking around and looking for a place to where it could just get away from all these people and it didn’t feel comfortable where it was at and a lot of times when you surround an animal like that and corner it, it can attack.“
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
No, first black bear contact in Michigan in 50 years. A dozen or so chases and challenges Since.
Truly. No laws or regulations coulf keep such idiots from getting maimed or eaten.
“Yea, Grizzly bears are. Black bears like this one are basically big rodents.
We’ll be camping this weekend in bear country. Never, ever ever take any food in your tent.
Anything that is smellable needs to be locked in the car, hung in a bear bag or in a bear proof container. (bears know how to open car doors. I know guys who found out the hard way)
In grizzly country, all food prep and eating is done far from camp. Change clothes at the food area before bunking down.”
Or stay in a hotel.
We stayed in a cabin once named Baby Black Bear neat Uber Gatlinburg.
It was as advertised, a baby bear walked up on the porch.
But he didn’t take an old timey photo!
Or ride go carts or play miniature golf, get jerky etc.
I’ve seen a lot of black bears while fishing Abrams Creek in Cades Cove...
Probably smelled the BBQ though.
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