Smoky Mountains tourists filmed feeding bears from lodge balcony

A family was caught on camera feeding bears from their rented cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, putting both the animals and the public at risk. The incident happened in downtown Gatlinburg, which is often a base for visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to USA Today, which posted the video.

USA Today reports that the video was shot last week by Michelle Payne, who spotted the group, including two young children, throwing food at the animals. According to Payne, police were able to scare the bears away by sounding their car sirens. However, the animals later returned, illustrating exactly why feeding wild animals is such a problem, even if the intentions are good.

When wild animals are fed by humans, they often lose their natural wariness (a phenomenon called habituation) and are more likely to approach humans and homes in the future. This increases the risk of a dangerous encounter if the animal thinks its food source is threatened.

Habituated bears that are considered a threat to public safety may be relocated or even euthanized. They are also more likely to be hit by cars or be easy targets for poachers.

Bear Safety

The National Park Service (NPS) warns visitors that bears can be found throughout the Smokies, and over the past decade, an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters have been reported each year (and many more go undocumented).

“The bear’s keen sense of smell leads it to insects, nuts and berries, but the animal is also attracted to the enticing odors of human food and trash such as hot dogs, apple cores, potato chips and watermelon rinds left on the ground at picnic areas, campgrounds and along trails,” the NPS says.

Not only can bears that gain access to human food become unpredictable and dangerous, they can also teach others where to find leftovers and trash, making the problem worse.

People who feed bears, store food improperly or litter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can face fines of up to $5,000 and jail time of up to six months.

USA Today has reached out to Gatlinburg police and the lodge owners about last week’s incident and is awaiting a response.