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Posted on 01/13/2026 8:59:00 AM PST by DFG
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is investigating after a bear ransacked a candy store in Gatlinburg. This is not the first time the bear has caused damage to the store, but the store is hopeful the bear will be relocated.
Glades Homemade Candies shared on social media Friday that this is the fourth time the bear has caused damage at the store. Photos of the damage show a glass door the bear busted through, an overturned sheet pan rack and pans that were once full of sweets dragged outside.
The store is located along East Parkway, near where the highway intersects with Glades Road. According to the post, the owners have nurtured their arts and crafts business in Gatlinburg for 35 years, but the persistent bear is a challenge they “urgently need to overcome.”
In an update Saturday, Glades Homemade Candies said it has taken every reasonable precaution it can to prevent the bear from accessing the store, including keeping doors secured, using bear-proof dumpsters, and implementing additional security measures.
Glades Homemade Candies said the incident was reported to the TWRA. The store told 6 News in a statement it is hopeful the bear will be relocated.
“As Gatlinburg natives, we deeply respect and care for our bears, our natural environment, and the Great Smoky Mountains,” the store wrote.
The TWRA confirmed to 6 News that it is aware of the incident and wildlife officers are investigating the case.
On Monday, TWRA released a statement saying, “TWRA is aware of the situation and has been working with the business to prevent further property damage and address safety concerns. The agency uses a variety of tools to manage and reduce human-bear conflicts, including an equipment loaner program that provides devices such as electric unwelcome mats. This program offers short-term relief while individuals or businesses purchase their own equipment or invest in long-term solutions. It also demonstrates effective ways to secure attractants and prevent damage. Because the equipment is in high demand, TWRA cannot always leave devices in place for extended periods.”
It added, “Each year, TWRA receives more than 1,000 calls related to human-bear conflicts, with a five-year average of 1,270 calls. Stories like this are often portrayed as cute or lighthearted, which can desensitize people to the seriousness of the issue and the challenges wildlife face. Black bears are wild animals with strong claws and teeth that help them survive in the wild. However, when they repeatedly find human food, those same strengths can lead to property damage and even pose a risk to people. In this case, the business did nothing wrong but is suffering the consequences of others who failed to follow BearWise practices.”
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“Is it them J’Marcus?”
It's not mid-July, so who are going to Sue?
Did they throw down their gum and call him Paw?
Human-bear conflicts?
A glass door, you say?
When you see the bear coming...get out any super hot pepper...dip it in chocolate...and voila...the other bears will get the word...
Had a black bear break in to the local grocery and eat 100 pounds of butter! He wasn’t hard to track!
Guess they should do what they do on “Mountain Men” - board up their windows and doors...No doubt difficult and timely to do each and every day but if there’s no other option, why not try it? If they don’t it in the wilds of Alaska and MT, the owners/trappers know their cabins will be broken into...
It’s like “Cocaine Bear” but without the drugs and carnage.
Isn’t it bear season in TN?
Ping
A tray of chocolate-coated, Carolina Reaper Peppers will end the problem quickly.
hey, smart bear!
a store full of candy....
he picked the right place,
yay!
Perhaps the Packers front office should investigate why a group of Bears were able to badly ransack a Green Bay squad that had a three-score lead at the half.
Hint: start with a lack of defensive leadership and a GM who should be fired for not having a competent place kicker four months into the season.
A stuffed mountain lion in the window...a cardboard pic would probably do...
Can you freeze condiments
whoops...wrong thead
Well they are everywhere in Gatlinburg.
I rented a cabin there titled Baby Black Bear. Decorated with bear themed items.
The problem was it came with an Actual bear!
It just walked onto the porch.
It should be relocated to the local packing plant and become tasty sausage!!
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