Black bear is main attraction in busy downtown Gatlinburg

What would you do if you saw a bear running amok through town? You would probably grab your cell phone and start taping. That is exactly what one family did when they saw a black bear making its way through the busy town of Gatlinburg, Tenn. According to WBIR on Sept. 10, this cute critter was the main attraction last weekend as tourists were seen gathering around to catch a glimpse of the wild animal.

Tricia Alexander and her family were in town when they noticed a crowd forming and that’s when they spotted the furry creature. She captured the bear on video and the reactions from the tourists as they all gathered around to witness this unusual sight. Of course, she and her family stayed in their vehicle during the taping, just to be safe.

"You could just see people standing there saying "Oh my God! A bear!" Alexander said. "A lot of people didn't see him coming and he just ran right by them and they're like wow! It was unreal!"

The black bear appeared to be going up the steps of the Gatlinburg Convention Center, but then came back down and started running down the main street. It looked a bit freaked out as it was trying to find its way back to its natural habitat. It sure didn’t look like he wanted to be among all those people.

The bear then used the crosswalk to make its way across the road. It certainly looked quite humorous to see a wild animal take its safety seriously. It finally made its way down an alley back into the woods behind the town. It just wanted to get out there quickly.

As for the Gatlinburg tourists, it seemed that they got more than they bargained for and most might have gotten the photo to prove it.

No one got hurt and the Tennessee black bear is home safe and sound without incident. However, TWRA officer Scott Reasor said that it is best to step away from a bear, not get closer to snap a photo.

"Definitely do not chase the bear. It's okay to get pictures of the bear and video of the bear. It's always exciting to see a bear. However, you don't want to let your excitement cause the bear any trouble,” he said.

What would you do if you saw a bear running past you in a busy town?

© Kim Brandow 2013

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