Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is best known as the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country’s most visited national park. Visitors flock there for hiking, waterfalls, wildflowers, and the chance to spot black bears in the wild. This group of tourists definitely got to see a black bear, but it didn’t quite go as they expected.
Let their reactions be a lesson for what not to do.
Black Bear Encounter Goes Comically Wrong
In a viral video with more than 575,000 views, content creator @paooo.spamsss46 shared how her mini golf excursion near this popular national park took a turn.
In the video, a black bear climbs the steps of the mini golf course. At first, things are fine. The two adults in frame stay calm. But when the little boy spots the animal, he bolts, sending the bear running.
To make matters more cartoonish, a man who’s watching from a ledge higher up gets so flustered that he inexplicably falls over the ledge and onto a tree like a cartoon character would.
Overlaid on the video is the viral “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” sound.
We presume no one got hurt since the next video on @paooo.spamsss46 account is of her having fun singing along in the car.
What To Do If You Encounter A Bear
Seeing a bear in the wild can be thrilling, but it’s important to remember they are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
The best way to stay safe is to avoid encounters in the first place. Make noise while hiking, travel in groups, and keep your distance, especially around food sources or a mother with cubs. Here’s what else to do if you come across a bear, according to guidance from the National Park Service.
If a bear notices you:
- Stay calm and speak in a low voice so it recognizes you as human.
- Pick up small children immediately.
- Never run, scream, or climb a tree.
- Slowly wave your arms and back away sideways if the bear isn’t moving.
- Always give the animal an escape route.
- Never drop your pack or let the bear get your food.
If a bear attacks:
- Brown/grizzly bears: Play dead. Lie flat on your stomach, hands behind your neck, legs spread. Keep still until it leaves. Fight back only if the attack continues.
- Black bears: Do not play dead. Escape to shelter if possible or fight back, aiming for the face and muzzle.
- Any bear in a tent or stalking you: Fight back immediately. This type of attack often means the bear sees you as prey.
Carrying bear pepper spray is also highly recommended in the backcountry. It can stop an aggressive bear but should never be used as a repellent.
Additional Safety Tips
Beyond knowing how to respond during a close encounter, there are a few everyday habits that can make a big difference in keeping both you and bears safe, according to the Parks Canada Agency:
- Keep dogs leashed or leave them at home—dogs can provoke bears.
- If you’re cycling or trail running, slow down near blind corners, avoid earbuds, and make extra noise to prevent surprise encounters.
- When camping, keep a “bare” campsite: store food and scented items away from your tent, use designated storage facilities or bear-resistant containers, and never leave garbage or dirty dishes out.
- If you see a bear by the road, don’t stop—or if you must, stay in your car, keep at least 100 meters away, and move on quickly to avoid crowding or stressing the animal.
Finally, remember that how you act doesn’t just affect your safety; it affects the bear’s survival, too. When bears get used to people or access to human food, they often have to be destroyed. By limiting encounters and keeping your campsite clean, you’re protecting both yourself and the bear.
Commenters React
“The man falling over the ledge I literally can’t stop laughing,” a top comment read.
“It is so frustrating that so many people vacation in gatlinburg/pigeon forge but know nothing regarding even basic bear safety… like guys…” a person said, frustrated.
“The problem is they started running. don’t run when you encounter a bear. if that little boy hadn’t started running they could’ve slowly backed outta there,” another pointed out.
“The kid running made the bear chase after everybody , yall need to do research before visiting Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge !!” a commenter chimed in.
BroBible reached out to @paooo.spamsss46 via TikTok direct message and comment.