GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in May got quite a surprise.
A bear climbed through an open window to grab food left behind in a vehicle parked in Gatlinburg on Thursday. The video was taken at a motel on Ski Mountain Road. Video shows the bear hops out of the car with a bag of food and take off towards the woods.
Human food is detrimental to bears, leading them to develop a pattern of relying on humans for food. This causes the bear to lose its fear of people. This can cause the bear to become more aggressive, putting the public at risk and could bring fatal repercussions to the bear.
Officials are reminding everyone to take the necessary steps to keep human food out of the reach of the bear population, even if it is just rolling up car windows.
If you encounter a bear, there are several tips to keep in mind. Click here to learn more about staying bear aware.
