The City of Gatlinburg and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) established a partnership in 1999 that has continued for over two decades to reduce human and black bear encounters in and around the corporate limits of Gatlinburg. The Partnership began in 1999 and shortly thereafter, the City adopted Ordinance 2188, which established an Animal Resistant Garabge Device zone, which outlined specific areas where bear-proof dumpsters and garbage cans were required.
Also, as part of this Partnership, the City of Gatlinburg and TWRA mutually fund a Bear Management Officer position. This position is filled with a trained TWRA Wildlife Officer, who is responsible for dealing with nuisance bear issues. This officer provides guidance to the City of Gatlinburg on items that can attract bears into the City, and educates citizens and visitors on black bear laws and how to be proactive in dealing with the visiting bears. The Officer also conducts routine compliance checks of garbage containers in the zone where these devices are required.
Also as part of the City-TWRA Partnership, both entities work together to educate the public about how to reduce human-bear conflicts and the proper disposal of garbage, as well as ensure a safe environment for Gatlinburg's citizens and visitors and bears.
In addition to the City Ordinance, TWRA filed Proclamation 00-17 in August of 2000, which prohibits the intentional or incidental feeding of bears. Violations of the City Ordinance are subject to a fine and court costs of $113.75, while the violation of the TWRA Proclamation is a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by fines, as well as possible community service.
Animal Resistant Garbage Containers
In 1999, the City established an animal-resistant container Ordinance, which required properties within this area to have garbage storage containers that have a metal lid with latches or be of a design approved by the City’s Public Works Department. In addition to properties within these areas, all restaurants within the Gatlinburg City limits are required to have animal-resistant containers.
Properties included in the initial area which required animal-resistant containers were the entire area within the city limits of Gatlinburg on the west side of the Foothills Parkway, the area north of the National Park Service boundary on either side of the western prong of the Little Pigeon River between Parkway and the Foothills Parkway boundary bounded on the north by LeConte Street and the Skyland Park and Winfield Heights subdivision, the entire corporate limits from Low Gap Road on the east and to the south of Highway 321 and Parkway will be required to provide animal resistant garbage containers for their refuse.
In September 2023, the Gatlinburg City Commission passed an Ordinance which expanded the areas required to use animal-resistant containers to include the remainder of properties in the C-A Zone and all properties north of East Parkway between its intersection at Traffic Light No. 3 and Roaring Fork Road.
The requirement to have such a receptacle does not apply to containers that are located inside a structure such as a house, building, or other enclosed structure that does not allow entry by scavenging animals.
If you have any questions about the animal-resistant containers, please call the Sanitation Department at (865) 436-5959.
BearWise Basics
The City also reminds citizens and visitors to follow the six BearWise Basics to reduce human-bear encounters.
Never feed or approach bears.
Secure food, garbage and recycling.
Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
Never leave pet food outside.
Clean and store grills.
Know what to do if you see a bear. Black bears are seldom aggressive and attacks are rare, but if you see a bear before it notices you stand still, don’t approach and enjoy the moment; then move away quietly in the opposite direction. If you encounter a bear that is aware of you, don’t run, as running may trigger a chase response. Back away slowly. Make sure bears are not cornered and have an escape route during any encounters.