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Great Smoky Mountains Warns: Don't Feed Black Bears!

8/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Great Smoky Mountains National Park warns against feeding black bears after three recent incidents.
Feeding wildlife is illegal, with penalties of up to $5,000 and six months in prison.
Park officials note that feeding bears increases aggressive behavior and human-bear encounters.
Visitors should maintain a 50-yard distance from bears and securely store food.
The park experiences heightened bear activity due to food scarcity and breeding season, attracting 12 million annual visitors.

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Story summary

Great Smoky Mountains National Park warns against feeding black bears after three recent incidents.
Feeding wildlife is illegal, with penalties of up to $5,000 and six months in prison.
Park officials note that feeding bears increases aggressive behavior and human-bear encounters.
Visitors should maintain a 50-yard distance from bears and securely store food.
The park experiences heightened bear activity due to food scarcity and breeding season, attracting 12 million annual visitors.