WATCH: Gatlinburg hotel guests feed a bear from a balcony. That's illegal and dangerous

A video captured at a Great Smoky Mountains resort shows people feeding a black bear, an activity that is illegal in Gatlinburg.

In the video, a group leans over a balcony above LeConte Creek to look at a bear on the rocks below, as others look on from their balconies. One person begins throwing food out of a bag down to the bear, which stretches up on its hind legs to reach up toward the balcony.

The person taking video from across the creek points out another bear nearby.

The feeding in the video, which is dated June 25, occurred after other dangerous black bear and human interactions at Anakeesta Mountaintop Adventure Park and outside Bearskin Lodge in Gatlinburg. A bear matching the description of the bear that entered the concession stand at Anakeesta has been euthanized since then.

In 2000, Gatlinburg prohibited the intentional feeding of black bears. Violation of the law is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $50, court costs of $180.50 and potential community service.

The penalty for the bears in such instances is a much harsher one: death.

"The survival rate of bears receiving food from people is likely a fraction of that of wild bears that do not have repeated contact with humans," the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website says. "The deliberate and accidental feeding of bears is socially irresponsible and causes animals to become conditioned and habituated to people."

When bears are fed by people, they lose their natural fear of humans, according to the website. “We cannot relocate a bear with this type of behavior, which is the direct result of people feeding bears,” Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesperson Matthew Cameron told Knox News in a June email, explaining why bears would be euthanized in such cases.

Residents of Gatlinburg and nearby towns say they're frustrated with this kind of careless behavior, which is detrimental to the health of native wildlife.

"We need to educate the tourists, and each other," Sevierville resident Misty Lambert told Knox News. "Do better."

Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com.

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