A family visiting Gatlinburg from Alabama for a football weekend got more than they bargained for on Sunday when a black bear unexpectedly wandered into their kitchen.
Kiley Pickett-Suits, whose family was staying in a cabin, remained surprisingly calm during the encounter. Not only did she manage to capture incredible footage of the bear on her phone, but she also shared the unforgettable moment on Facebook.
“And I just thought, that’s, that can’t be — that’s a bear,” Pickett-Suits told local news outlet WATE 6 On Your Side.
The family had been enjoying their vacation, taking in the sights and sounds of the Smoky Mountains, when they left their back door open to let out some cooking smoke and get some fresh air. Little did they know their decision would bring in an uninvited guest.
When Pickett-Suits returned to the kitchen, she was stunned to find the bear rummaging through their dining area. In a moment of unexpected bravery, she recalled advice she had heard about how to handle a bear encounter.
“I remembered somewhere hearing that if you see a bear, not to run away, but to go towards it and act big and so that’s what I did,” she said. “I was like, ‘get out of here!’ And it was a nice, friendly bear. I mean, it just literally went on its way.”
Despite her confidence, wildlife experts stress that approaching a bear is never a safe choice. The organization Bearwise.org advises people to give bears a clear escape route, leave doors open, and back away quietly from the area. Making noise is only recommended if you spot a bear in your backyard or outdoor area.
Pickett-Suits noted that after their kitchen escapade, they discovered the bear had helped itself to some breakfast.
“We looked outside and it had the peanut butter,” she said. “And it also had a jelly spoon that we had left out and then we looked at the table and it had eaten my son’s breakfast.” Pickett-Suits even managed to snap a picture of the bear, tongue out, tucking into the peanut butter, which she called “his favorite food” in a lighthearted Facebook post after the event.
“It was really, I mean, it was such a neat experience,” said Pickett-Suits. “I’m really happy. We all are. My four-year-old, the only thing I worry about is he’s going to think that this is a normal thing. But everyone was so excited.”
Local neighbors later informed the family that bear sightings in the area are quite common, which offered some reassurance. As a precaution, experts recommend adhering to six BearWise Basics to minimize future encounters: never feed or approach bears; secure food and garbage; remove bird feeders when bears are active; never leave pet food outside; clean and store grills properly; and alert neighbors to bear activity.
If you do see a bear while in Tennessee, you can report it online to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Newsweek contacted the TWRA for an update on this specific bear sighting outside of business hours on Monday.
Bears that become reliant on human sources of food can become a danger to people. “Bears that habituate to human presence eventually become a threat to human safety. The end result is that such bears are often killed by intolerant and/or fearful landowners or have to be destroyed by the TWRA,” the TWRA said on its website.
The fate of this particular bear, which was friendly according to Pickett-Suits, remains unclear.
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