Overview
- Onlooker footage shows a black bear crossing a busy Gatlinburg street as a man approaches from behind and reaches toward the animal.
- The bear snaps and briefly charges before moving away, and reports say neither the man nor the bear was injured.
- Gatlinburg LIVE posted the clip with a warning not to approach wildlife, and online reaction overwhelmingly condemned the man’s behavior.
- Wildlife authorities warn that repeated close interactions can habituate bears and may lead to removal or euthanasia if an animal becomes a public-safety risk.
- The incident follows other recent bear sightings in the area, including a bear entering the town’s Christmas parade, and no enforcement action related to the street encounter has been reported.