A black bear was shot in Sevier County after it entered an occupied home.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, an elderly Sevierville homeowner was awakened by noises coming from his kitchen, according to a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency press release. The noise was from a black bear that had entered the home by breaking through a screen door.
The black bear was a yearling male, according to TWRA.
The bear fled the house but would not leave the property, according to the release. The homeowner then fatally shot the bear with a shotgun outside the house.
According to the homeowner, the same bear had recently broken into an outbuilding on the property.
“This homeowner did not want to take this action but felt it was necessary to protect his safety,” TWRA officials said. “Under TWRA’s human–bear conflict matrix, a bear that enters a residence would be captured and humanely euthanized."
The incident took place on Matt Road, a heavily wooded residential street in Sevierville. Matt Road is about five miles away from The Island in Pigeon Forge, a large commercial center and popular tourist destination.
There are only four homes on Matt Road, according to Tennessee property records.
TWRA investigated the black bear death, and the agency has concluded that the homeowner's actions did not violate any laws, according to the press release.
If the homeowner had not shot the bear, it still would have died. TWRA captures and euthanizes any bear that enters a residence, occupied or otherwise.
In 2024 alone, TWRA was forced to euthanize 31 bears, according to Dan Gibbs, black bear program coordinator at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. That's 12 more bears than East Tennessee's four-year average of 19. Not all bears are euthanized because of their behavior. The TWRA's figure also includes putting down injured animals.
Is it common for bears to enter a home?
No. This was an uncommon incident, according to TWRA.
How common are bears in the Smokies?
Black bears are a common sighting across East Tennessee, but especially so in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and areas surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Smokies are one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States, where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings, according to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. About 1,900 bears live in the national park, and at least 5,500 bears live across East Tennessee, according to Gibbs.
What month are bears most active in the Smoky Mountains?
Bears are most active in the spring and summer, meaning you're most likely to encounter a bear in Gatlinburg between April and August, according to the National Park Service website.
However, black bears can be sighted at almost any time in East Tennessee.
What to do if you see a black bear in Tennessee
If you see a black bear in East Tennessee, though they are undeniably adorable, do not approach it. For your safety and the safety of the animal, it is important that you keep your distance.
BearWise.org recommends a few basic guidelines to help keep people safe in a black bear encounter, depending on where you see the bear.
If the bear is indoors or near a dumpster or building, back away and give it a clear escape route. If it's inside leave doors open.
If the bear is in your backyard, remain a safe distance away and make loud noises to scare it away. Be sure it's gone before letting any pets out or removing items that might have attracted it.
If the bear is in the woods, back away slowly and quietly. Never run, as that might trigger the bear's chase response.
If you are approached by the bear, stand your ground and try to appear as large as possible. Make loud noises.
If a black bear charges you, use bear spray. If it makes contact, fight back using your surroundings. Do not play dead.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Young black bear shot to death outside Sevierville, Tennessee home
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