Black Bear Found Shot Dead in Gatlinburg After Repeated Trouble With Homes and Businesses

In 2025, wildlife officers had to remove a black bear from the roof of Bubba Gump’s restaurant in Gatlinburg.

On Friday, October 9, 2026, that same bear was found dead from a gunshot wound.

No one knows yet who shot it, or why.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) confirmed the discovery, according to WVLT. By then, the bear had a long record with people: damaged vehicle windows, trips into homes and other buildings, and a capture attempt that failed.

Bears in Gatlinburg Are Common. This One Wasn’t.

Seeing a black bear around Gatlinburg isn’t unusual. Nearly 1,900 black bears live in the Smokies, and the town is one of the places locals say everyone in Tennessee should visit, so people and bears cross paths often.

A bear wandering through the woods is one thing. This bear had developed a pattern. Throughout 2026, TWRA received multiple reports of damaged vehicle windows and bears entering homes and other buildings, and officials identified this animal as responsible.

TWRA hasn’t said what drew it to vehicles, but it’s exactly why locals warn first-time visitors to never leave food inside an unlocked car. Homes were on its list, too, which is worth remembering if you’re planning a cabin stay in the Smokies.

By the time the agency tried to capture the bear again, officials considered its behavior a public safety concern. TWRA told WVLT that attempts to capture it and humanely remove it from the population were unsuccessful. The agency did not euthanize it.

One Small-Caliber Bullet, No Answers

TWRA says a small-caliber bullet killed the bear. How the shooting happened is still unclear.

Black bear hunting season was open in Sevier County when the bear was found, but wildlife officials haven’t determined whether a hunter targeted it. Someone may also have shot it after an encounter, or out of frustration over property damage.

Pinning that down is hard. TWRA told WVLT that bears involved in repeated conflicts can be wounded and travel long distances before they die, so where the shot was fired may never be clear.

And an open season doesn’t make every shooting legal. WVLT reports that shooting an animal with no intention of recovering it is illegal.

It’s been a busy month for the agency. Days later, TWRA also announced that its biologists had documented two endangered bat species in Fentress County.

The Problem Isn’t Seeing a Bear. It’s a Bear That Comes Back.

According to TWRA, spotting a bear in a populated area isn’t necessarily a reason for alarm. The real concern is a bear that keeps finding reasons to return.

Unsecured garbage, pet food left outside, bird feeders, and other easy food can teach a bear that places full of people mean easy meals. Over time, that creates serious trouble for the bear and everyone nearby.

TWRA hasn’t identified what first drew this bear to buildings and vehicles. But that pattern is why wildlife officers treat repeated property damage very differently from an occasional sighting.

Living and Staying in Gatlinburg’s Bear Country

Lock up food: TWRA recommends keeping garbage secured, never leaving pet food outside, and never feeding bears. Feeding bears inside Gatlinburg city limits is illegal. That goes for a weekend in a rental cabin as much as for a full-time home.

Report a sighting: TWRA has an online form for ordinary bear sightings. It isn’t meant for conflicts, injured bears, or dangerous behavior.

Report a problem bear: For bear conflicts in East Tennessee, call TWRA dispatch at 1-800-831-1174. If a bear is entering buildings, damaging property, or creating an immediate safety concern, a report gives wildlife officers what they need to step in.

This bear’s history of conflicts was already well documented. What officials still haven’t established is who fired the fatal shot, or whether that history had anything to do with it.

Details via WVLT and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.