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Black bear next to a can of beer
Bears are known for being opportunists that are more than happy to capitalize on any chance to score an easy meal. You want to keep your car doors locked in places where they roam, and we’ve been treated to the latest reminder of the risks that come with failing to do so after a pack treated themselves to some snacks and a six-pack of beer in Tennessee.
The arrival of fall usually leads to an uptick in incidents involving bears in the United States. The animals enter hyperphagia toward the start of September, and they devote the bulk of their waking hours to eating as much food as possible while the temperature begins to drop as they prepare to enter hibernation.
Those mammals have a tendency to get a bit more daring in their quest for sustenance during that time of year, and people who live in Bear Country need to be more proactive than usual when it comes to securing potential food sources and denying them access to the homes and vehicles they won’t think twice about barging into if they smell an opportunity.
That’s certainly the case in the areas surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is one of America’s biggest hotspots for bear activity regardless of the season. Unfortunately, some people who live in one of its primary gateways fell victim to a robbery after failing to secure their car.
A pack of beers invaded a pickup truck for some snacks and beers in Tennessee
As someone who devotes a fair amount of time to keeping tabs on the Bear Beat at BroBible, I can’t think of a single place that’s been at the center of more stories I’ve covered than Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
That town sits at one of the entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is home to an estimated 1,900 black bears. They have routinely caused trouble by wandering into crowded areas, and in the past year, there have been multiple incidents where they either made their way into a car by smashing a window or simply taking advantage of an unlocked door.
We’ve been treated to our latest entry in that second category due to what transpired earlier this month, as Fox Weather shared a video that was captured by Pam Conley on October 14th where large bear that was accompanied by three younger ones popped open the handle of a pickup truck in her driveway before grabbing Crunch ‘n Munch, some granola bars, and a six-pack of beer.
The bears were largely unfazed after being approached by Conley’s partner, but they eventually made their way off the property with some of their ill-gotten gains in tow.