WATCH: Hungry bear lunges at concessions worker in Tennessee park
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WJW) — A worker at a Tennessee park suddenly came face-to-face with a black bear last week, startling both of them.
It happened on Thursday, June 20, at the Anakeesta mountaintop adventure park, according to a news release from the park.
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At about 9:30 p.m., a black bear entered a concession stand — the aptly named “Bear Can” — on the park’s eastern side through an employee door that had been propped open.
Video shows the bear sniffing out some vittles, and those inside can be heard trying to shoo the bear away.
The bear is seen exiting out the back door with gumbo on its paw, just as an employee carrying a pot full of food is walking in — to both their shock. The bear is seen lunging at the employee, claws raised, as she shouts.
“At that point, the bear and employee made brief physical contact,” reads the release. “The employee in the video was not seriously injured and opted not to receive medical attention.”
As the bear darts out of view of the camera, the employee, who had dropped the pot, runs back inside and closes the door.
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The incident didn’t impact park operations.
The park is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is home to many “world famous” native black bears, reads the release.
“Bears are a big part of the magic in the Great Smoky Mountains,” park spokesperson Austin Martin is quoted in the release. “The Anakeesta team works diligently to create a safe space to co-exist with the native wildlife.”
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