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Bear Faces Off With Woman and Dog Before Heading Down Stairwell in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
September 13, 2023
A woman and her dog in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, were surprised this week when they encountered a bear face-to-face in their apartment building stairwell.
The woman, identified only as Jennifer, said she was walking her dog down the stairs when she saw the bear. She said the bear was standing in the middle of the stairs, blocking her way. Jennifer said she was scared, but she tried to remain calm and slowly back away. Jennifer said the bear didn't seem aggressive, but it didn't let her pass either. Jennifer said she was stuck in the stairwell for about 10 minutes before the bear finally moved on.
Jennifer said she was relieved that she and her dog were not harmed, but she was also shaken up by the experience. She said she had never seen a bear in the wild before, and she was surprised to see one in her apartment building. Jennifer said she called the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to report the bear, and they said they would send someone out to investigate.
The TWRA said that bear sightings are becoming more common in Gatlinburg as the city continues to grow. The TWRA said that bears are attracted to the city by the availability of food, and they often enter buildings in search of food. The TWRA said that it is important to be aware of your surroundings when you are in bear country, and to take precautions to avoid encounters with bears.
The TWRA offers the following tips to avoid bear encounters:
- Be aware of your surroundings and be alert for bears.
- Make noise when you are hiking or camping, especially in areas where bears are known to be present.
- Store food and trash properly, and never leave food or trash unattended.
- If you encounter a bear, stay calm and slowly back away. Do not run or make sudden movements.
- If a bear approaches you, make yourself look as large as possible and make noise.
- If a bear attacks you, fight back with everything you have.