COSBY, Tenn. (WATE) — Over the last few weeks in Tennessee, there have been several bear and human encounters near the Smoky Mountains. These encounters are raising the question, “Are there any laws that prohibit people from feeding bears in Tennessee?”

The short answer from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is, no, at least not statewide.

“The only bear legislation that we enforce is in the city of Gatlinburg. There is a TWRA proclamation that says you can’t intentionally or knowingly feed black bears or leave food or trash in a way that would intentionally or knowingly feed black bears,” TWRA spokesperson Matt Cameron said. “TWRA can enforce that law and it applies to the entire corporate city limits of Gatlinburg.”

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Outdoors Appalachia

The fine associated with that proclamation is $50, plus nearly $200 in court costs. It can also only be enforced in the corporate city limits of Gatlinburg. State Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) said something has to change.

“When bear are comfortable to go around humans, you’ve got all sorts of issues,” Faison said. “If we want to save our bear population, if we want to make sure people don’t get mauled to death, we are going to have to get to a place in Tennessee where we don’t have interactions with bears. You can see them from a distance, but this notion of feeding them is crazy.”

Faison has talked with the TWRA on what they can do to stop these interactions. One possible avenue he mentioned was enforcing stiff penalties.

“We want civil penalties that are enough that outweigh the pleasure of the crime,” Faison said. “You look at any wrongdoing, if the punishment doesn’t outweigh the pleasure of the wrongdoing people are going to choose the pleasure.”

When these encounters happen, Cameron said the conversation of what needs to be done to stop them is reignited.

“When we see situations like that we’ve had in the last couple of weeks up there happen, it kind of gets the conversation moving forward,” Cameron said. “We would certainly support having those discussions with our legislators on pursuing some sort of statewide ban on feeding bears.”

Cameron added the process of trying to get legislation for this will take some time to discuss and work out any kinks.

Cameron pointed out that when people feed bears, it makes them less scared of people and they will continue seeking out people in hopes of getting food.

To learn more about the best practices when it comes to bears you can head over to TWRA’s Bear Wise campaign where they have tips on everything from storing food to the best things to do if you encounter a bear up close.

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