Despite existing regulations prohibiting the feeding of bears, many tourists and even some residents continue to feed these animals, putting both the bears and our community at risk. Feeding bears can cause them to become reliant on humans for food, leading to dangerous encounters and potentially aggressive behavior.
Additionally, businesses in Gatlinburg must do their part to prevent bears from accessing their trash. Improperly secured trash containers can attract bears, leading to conflicts and property damage. By requiring businesses to use bear-proof trash containers, we can help reduce the likelihood of these encounters and protect our community and wildlife.
We are calling on our city leaders to impose fines on individuals who are caught feeding bears, as well as on businesses and cabin owners who do not have bear-proof trash containers. These fines should serve as a deterrent to those who are putting our community and wildlife at risk.
It is time for Gatlinburg to take a stand against the illegal feeding of bears and to ensure that businesses are doing their part to prevent conflicts with wildlife. We urge our city leaders to enforce the laws on feeding bears and to require the use of bear-proof trash containers, imposing fines on those who do not comply.
Please sign this petition to show your support for these measures to protect our community and wildlife. Together, we can make Gatlinburg a safer place for both residents and bears.
Updates
July 20, 2024
ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE JOINED THE FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR BEARS!! THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC AND PROVES HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT WILDLIFE SAFETY!!
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 17, 2024
July 12, 2024
WE JUST SMASHED THROUGH THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED SIGNATURES!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND I AM TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THE POWER OF THIS COMMUNITY!!
July 10, 2024
THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND I AM BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT OVER HOW MUCH ATTENTION WE ARE FINALLY BRINGING TO OUR BEARS!! YOU ALL HAVE CREATED AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE THAT PROVES OUR CITY LEADERS CANNOT IGNORE US ANY LONGER!!
Reached 100 supporters
July 9, 2024
430 Comments
Stiffer fines must be placed on those who feed bears and establishments such as restaurants and hotels who do not abide by the rules. If bears are continually euthanized because of people’s stupidity, there won’t be any left to enjoy.
The amount of bears being euthanized is ridiculous. Fine the folks that are feeding them and the companies that make all kins of money off of the tourists and their trash. These companies should be required to have bear proof garbage receptacles.
I agree this bear situation is out of control I am a repeat visitor since my dad brought us there in the 60s it’s both the businesses fault for not securing their trash and tourists who are only thinking of that selfie with a Bear
Businesses need to keep ALL trash secured, including cleaning services and tourists need to quit feeding these bears or any wildlife here because it puts all of them in jeopardy. Also people need to stop driving more than the speed limits to keep our wildlife safer!
Also you keep allowing more and more developers to keep buying up land which is taking away the home of these bears and other wildlife. Then you wonder why they come into town. Stop the greediness. Make all businesses and rental owners use bear proof trash containers
Too many bears are being put to sleep, because people refuse to follow the law! If we start enforcing the law of staying away from bears then more bears will be saved!
Bears and other wild animals can and have been killed eating food people have thrown out along roads etc anyone caught throwing out food along roads should pay hefty fines these bears and wild animals need to be protected.
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Despite existing regulations prohibiting the feeding of bears, many tourists and even some residents continue to feed these animals, putting both the bears and our community at risk. Feeding bears can cause them to become reliant on humans for food, leading to dangerous encounters and potentially aggressive behavior.
Additionally, businesses in Gatlinburg must do their part to prevent bears from accessing their trash. Improperly secured trash containers can attract bears, leading to conflicts and property damage. By requiring businesses to use bear-proof trash containers, we can help reduce the likelihood of these encounters and protect our community and wildlife.
We are calling on our city leaders to impose fines on individuals who are caught feeding bears, as well as on businesses and cabin owners who do not have bear-proof trash containers. These fines should serve as a deterrent to those who are putting our community and wildlife at risk.
It is time for Gatlinburg to take a stand against the illegal feeding of bears and to ensure that businesses are doing their part to prevent conflicts with wildlife. We urge our city leaders to enforce the laws on feeding bears and to require the use of bear-proof trash containers, imposing fines on those who do not comply.
Please sign this petition to show your support for these measures to protect our community and wildlife. Together, we can make Gatlinburg a safer place for both residents and bears.
Updates
July 20, 2024
ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE JOINED THE FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR BEARS!! THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC AND PROVES HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT WILDLIFE SAFETY!!
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 17, 2024
July 12, 2024
WE JUST SMASHED THROUGH THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED SIGNATURES!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND I AM TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THE POWER OF THIS COMMUNITY!!
July 10, 2024
THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND I AM BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT OVER HOW MUCH ATTENTION WE ARE FINALLY BRINGING TO OUR BEARS!! YOU ALL HAVE CREATED AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE THAT PROVES OUR CITY LEADERS CANNOT IGNORE US ANY LONGER!!
Reached 100 supporters
July 9, 2024
430 Comments
Individuals (not cabin owners as we have no control over visiting public) should be legally held accountable for non compliance of regulations and laws and there should be clear laws about litter and trash or food responsibilities regarding bears.
Stiffer fines must be placed on those who feed bears and establishments such as restaurants and hotels who do not abide by the rules. If bears are continually euthanized because of people’s stupidity, there won’t be any left to enjoy.
The amount of bears being euthanized is ridiculous. Fine the folks that are feeding them and the companies that make all kins of money off of the tourists and their trash. These companies should be required to have bear proof garbage receptacles.
I agree this bear situation is out of control I am a repeat visitor since my dad brought us there in the 60s it’s both the businesses fault for not securing their trash and tourists who are only thinking of that selfie with a Bear
Businesses need to keep ALL trash secured, including cleaning services and tourists need to quit feeding these bears or any wildlife here because it puts all of them in jeopardy. Also people need to stop driving more than the speed limits to keep our wildlife safer!
Also you keep allowing more and more developers to keep buying up land which is taking away the home of these bears and other wildlife. Then you wonder why they come into town. Stop the greediness. Make all businesses and rental owners use bear proof trash containers
Too many bears are being put to sleep, because people refuse to follow the law! If we start enforcing the law of staying away from bears then more bears will be saved!
Bears and other wild animals can and have been killed eating food people have thrown out along roads etc anyone caught throwing out food along roads should pay hefty fines these bears and wild animals need to be protected.
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Individuals (not cabin owners as we have no control over visiting public) should be legally held accountable for non compliance of regulations and laws and there should be clear laws about litter and trash or food responsibilities regarding bears.