Black bear safety

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency would like to remind Tennesseans that black bears are on the move.

Tennessee’s black bear population is primarily concentrated on the Cumberland Plateau and throughout East Tennessee, but historically their range covered the entire state. Tennessee’s neighboring states also have expanding bear populations. Each spring, yearling bears disperse from their mothers in search of their new home range. During these travels, bears may appear in areas of Tennessee where bear sightings are less common but are always possible.

A bear passing through a neighborhood is not cause for alarm. If it lingers, it likely has found easily accessible food, called attractants, like unsecured garbage, pet food, or bird seed and will keep coming back as long as attractants remain available.

The best approach to prevent unwanted bear encounters is to secure attractants that bring bears near homes and populated areas. Black bears do not view humans as prey but will learn to associate humans with food if they are continually rewarded with free meals from garbage cans, pet food, bird feeders, or other human food sources.

TWRA encourages Tennesseans to report bear sightings through the agency’s I Saw A Bear reporting system. Sighting reports help wildlife biologists monitor bear movements and better understand the species’ distribution across the state.

For more information about living responsibly in bear country and reducing conflicts with bears, visit BearWise.org, a comprehensive educational resource dedicated to helping people coexist safely with black bears.

Follow the BearWise® Basics: Never feed or approach; secure food, garbage, and recycling; remove bird feeders when bears are active, never leave pet food outdoors, clean and store grills and smokers; and alert neighbors to bear activity.

By taking simple precautions, Tennesseans can help keep bears wild and people safe.