KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is urging people not to leave food out for wildlife, as it can attract bears.
A spokesperson with TWRA said they had a report on Lovell Road in Knoxville where someone was intentionally feeding bears. He added that they are seeing more and more of this kind of behavior, where people are placing food for wildlife so they can view them.
“Unfortunately, it’s not illegal to feed bears in places other than the prohibited zone within the City Limits of Gatlinburg,” wrote Matthew Cameron with TWRA. A biologist with the agency added that they attempt to educate people on why intentional and unintentional feeding can harm bears, but they cannot stop them from doing it.
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Leaving food out for bears can cause them to lose their natural fear of people, which can lead to very dangerous behavior and the bear possibly being euthanized. The TWRA’s website adds that bears that are attracted to human food sources or are deliberately fed by humans have a relatively short life…