A TikTok video that went viral put a tourist from Virginia in trouble after feeding a black bear in Tennessee.

Last Friday, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Association said that Danville, VA resident Kristin Hailee Farris, age 21, has been seen in a video recording feeding various treats by hand to the black bear in Gatlinburg, Tennessee last September. The food items she offered seemed to consist of chocolate and watermelon, among other foodstuffs. 

Charges Filed

Consequently, the woman was charged with a black bear's illegal feeding, based on her video's contents. According to the WVLT news station's report, the video has already been viewed over half a million times. 

According to wildlife officials, regulations explicitly state that people should not feed bears or leave food in their garbage cans in ways that may attract the animals. This regulation is being enforced in Gatlinburg in a radius of six miles. It is meant to discourage bears from desiring to enter the area.

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Penalties and Consequences

Once the woman is found guilty, a conviction means six months of jail time plus a fine of 500 dollars.

According to Sgt. David Sexton of Sevier County, people's tremendous desire to get close and encounter bears can be overwhelming enough to overpower common sense. He says people want to feed these bears so much without realizing its adverse effects for both humans and bears. 


Bear Behavior

Scientists and wildlife biologists have studied bear biology and behavior to such an extent that they can understand some of the motivations that drive bears and their reactions to certain situations.

It is crucial to understand such behaviors to promote human safety and harmony with the bears as we co-exist with these wild animals. 


Shy Animals

People often misinterpret the behavior of bears. This misinterpretation is usually borne out of the person's fear of the bears. In general, bears have no mean bone or malice in their motivations. They are timid animals who have no intention of interacting with humans. They usually want to avoid people unless it is unavoidable, such as when humans are near some food source.

In particular, like Farris fed in the video, black bears are usually less aggressive than other bears and tolerate people compared to many other bear species. Black bears also typically live in areas where human settlements are near.

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Active by Day, But Can Also Be Nocturnal 

Bears can be seen at any time of the day, and those that live in areas populated by humans have been observed to turn nocturnal so that they can avoid the people there. 

Habituate to Human Presence

Meanwhile, other bears get used to people's presence so that they can get to the abundant food improperly thrown in the garbage.

Bears can quickly become accustomed to humans. As long as they are not harassed or killed, bears can co-exist with people.

By knowing a lot about bear behavior, we can manage their presence better and help us live with one another peacefully. An example of improper conduct is to feed a black bear when one is seen, just like what that tourist from Virginia did in Tennessee in her viral TikTok video.

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