Bearly Respectful
Gatlinburg is a mountain town outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A black bear isn’t uncommon in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area, particularly in the woods or even running through a backyard. Most of us have heard the saying that asks, in somewhat crass terms, if bears do, in fact, defecate in the woods. Well, one bear decided to challenge that reputation after locking itself inside the humans-only bathroom at the Downtown Gatlinburg Quality Inn & Suites in Tennessee. Around 2:33 a.m. after an employee reported a bear had entered an exterior bathroom and was trapped inside, according to a police report. But finding a bear in a hotel bathroom is unusual … even for that area. Last Friday, the Gatlinburg Police Department was called to investigate a problem inside one of the bathrooms.
At the downtown Quality Inn & Suites a black bear had somehow managed to lock itself inside the public access bathroom by the pool. Video of the incident below shows several officers working on the door to unlock it, with one officer appearing to have armed himself with a 2×4, cracking the door open and running to join his colleagues who have already taken cover. The footage shows officers carefully opening the bathroom door before the confused bear casually strolls out and heads down the sidewalk to freedom while officers and bystanders scatter out of the way. One officer beats sticks together while they both holler to deter the animal.
By the looks of it, though, the bear had no interest in the humans anyway. The black bear opens the door and walks out. He looks toward the officers, then runs in the opposite direction. Police say the bear damaged a mirror in the bathroom. But neither the bear nor any officers were injured. For wildlife enthusiasts seeking out destinations for thrilling (but safe) bear encounters, a local motel is the last place likely to come to mind. Fortunately, the officers handled the situation perfectly, and nobody was injured during the ordeal. The whole thing ended with only some minor property damage. As anyone familiar with East Tennessee knows, black bears wandering through Gatlinburg neighborhoods, parking lots and hotels is hardly unusual this time of year. But one locking itself in a hotel bathroom? That’s a new one. But the unusual incident is a good reminder that black bears are not limited to hiking trails or remote forests in the Smokies.
Bearly Funnies
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
A gummy bear.
Why is there only one Yogi Bear?
Because when they tried to create a second one, they made a Boo-Boo.
What do they do at the teddy bear factory?
Stuff.
Why did the bear with alopecia go to his doctor?
To get a re-furral.
May 15th Birthdays
1968 – Madhuri Dixon, 1971 – JaneSeymour, 1996 – Birdie, 1972 – Sarah Hadland
1955 – Lee Horsley, 1937 – Trini Lopez, 1947 – George Lucas, 1969 – Emmitt Smith