The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 03:01 PM
Sevier County Visitors Have Close Call With Bear This Weekend
According to a local Knoxville news station, Jerry Hann shared a video of the bear approaching the people filming from their condo's walkway, when all of a sudden the bear began to charge at them.
Hann said they ran inside, and the bear was just letting them know "not to mess with him."
"He was just letting us know he was coming (through)," Hann added.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has guidelines that go along with what Hann was saying about the encounter. According to park rangers, black bears are wild animals that are both dangerous and unpredictable.
The park warns to not let bears approach you, or try to go toward them. If you do get closer than 50 yard to a bear, you could face fines or even arrest. Park officials recommend you use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to check out the bears from a safe distance.
