A black bear unexpectedly became the star of Gatlinburg’s 50th annual Christmas parade on Friday, strolling down the cleared parade route in front of a stunned crowd. Jaw-dropping footage and local reports captured the furry gatecrasher in all its holiday glory.
Videos shared on social media show onlookers whipping out their phones as the bear, adorned with twinkling holiday lights, sauntered along the street like it owned the place. Spectators shouted and cheered as the animal eventually wandered off into a nearby parking lot.
“Waiting on the Christmas parade and a bear came out!!!” one excited attendee wrote online.
However, not everyone was charmed by the unexpected visitor. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency warned that the bear may have become too accustomed to humans, which could make it dangerous and ultimately require it to be euthanized if it begins seeking food from people.
“That bear is, at some point, going to come in physical contact with a human and probably have to be euthanized for its actions. We urge everyone to help keep bears wild and safe by avoiding behaviors that habituate them to humans,” said Matt Cameron, a spokesperson for the agency.
Cameron noted that wild bears typically avoid humans and should not be treated like pets. Later on Friday, the bear was spotted rummaging through trash cans, highlighting the ongoing challenge of keeping wildlife and humans safely separated.
The city has invested in bear-proof garbage cans and dumpsters and encourages residents to use them properly to prevent such encounters. Gatlinburg, the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is home to roughly 1,500 bears.