Tennessee is no stranger to black bears. While they do make their way into Gatlinburg, they’re typically skittish and run off. In reality, black bears are often more afraid of humans than humans are of them. However, one particularly enormous bear recently had locals on edge when it got too close to a group of kids. Luckily, a hero was among them.
The video, posted on Reddit, shows a massive black bear trotting across the street from a business parking lot. A group of teens looks on while a local man herds the bear. At first, everything seems to be going smoothly. The man rushes the bear across the street, all the while appearing in control.
While black bears are known for being docile, it doesn’t mean they can’t be aggressive when cornered. Between the commotion of the crowd, the cars, and a generally busy street, the bear was undoubtedly overwhelmed. The bear makes it to the sidewalk, panting, and slows down in front of a local business. In the background, we see people entering the street from a nearby alleyway with their children.
The man makes an effort to corral the bear and keep him close, only for the bear to lunge with a paw swing. As the man pulls his arm back, the bear lunges again, this time with its mouth wide open. The man, thankfully uninjured, quickly backtracks across the street. The family on the other side can be seen picking up their kids and scurrying out of the bear’s way. While running is never a good idea when confronting a black bear, this one was too preoccupied with getting away.
The bear hurries down the alleyway, and the video ends. Viewers of the footage had mixed reactions, with some commenting that it was normal to see black bears in Gatlinburg. Others chastized people for feeding them, which only encourages them to encroach on human territory.
One shared a heartfelt story, highlighting the animal’s mostly gentle nature. “I heard a thump on my porch a few months ago at night. I open the blinds, and a black bear is sitting on my porch railing, eating apples off my tree. Had the most “huh?” look on his face I had ever seen. I shouted at him because I live near people who want to sanitize nature, but as someone terrified of bears, it was a really lovely moment,” they said.
Others shared words of caution. “As someone from Knoxville, black bears are generally docile. Don’t approach or interact with them unless you WANT them to get angry. Just walk around,” one user says. “And if they try to approach you, don’t run. Stick your arms out and yell at it; it will likely run away. They aren’t Grizzlies. They’re oversized raccoons.” Others applauded the unidentified man. One user said, “Buy that man a new set of pants and underwear.” To this, another replied, “Buy him a beer. Or bear? Either way, that guy is a hero.”
