City Of Gatlinburg Asks Residents To Change Fall Decorations

Did you realize that 8 weeks from Sunday is the first day of fall? It’ll be here before we know it. In getting ready for the fall season, the city of Gatlinburg is asking residents to refrain from using produce in any fall displays that are put out this year. That’s because there has been such a big problem this year with bear encounters. Gatlinburg officials say that while it may seem harmless to use pumpkins, gourds, or decorative corn on corn stalks as decorations, all of those can attract bears. There have been several bears that have been euthanized this year after coming into contact with humans because of food.

Gatlinburg officials are suggesting that residents use fake pumpkins and gourds this year on any fall decorations. Gatlinburg and the Smokies BearWise Task Force and the TWRA are hosting an open house on August 13 to help educate the public on being bear wise. The state of Tennessee is also discussing passing a law making it illegal to feed bears in the state. The City of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have that restriction in place already.