NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) has issued a warning about increased interactions with black bears as the state’s population continues to grow.
The agency reports there are nearly 6,000 black bears across Tennessee. In 2024, TWRA received 1,700 emergency calls related to black bears, with 25% of those calls being garbage-related.
The agency advises residents to lock food in cars and use bear-resistant containers for garbage storage…