GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The Smokies BearWise Task Force, the City of Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Police Department, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are partnering to host an Open House on educating the public and businesses on BearWise® practices.
The event will be held on Wednesday, March 18 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, which is located at 1870 Sports World Boulevard. The event is open to the public and free of charge.
This Open House aims to educate residents, businesses, and visitors about living and recreating responsibly to keep bears wild and people safe.
There will be special presentations by the TWRA and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The remainder of the event will be an open house style event with different stations for individuals to receive information on best BearWise practices. Among the stations at the event will be BearWise materials and signage, a chance to visit with representatives from the TWRA, National Park Service,and the Gatlinburg Police Department, demonstrations of animal-resistant equipment, information on how to scare away a bear, bear research, BearWise signageand more educational stations. The information will teach businesses, rental owners, and hoteliers how to keep bears wild and people safe on their properties.
The Smokies BearWise Taskforce is dedicated to promoting bear awareness and safety through education and community outreach. Comprised of members of the local business community, the TWRA, and the local government, the taskforce’s mission is to reduce human-bear conflicts and ensure a sustainable coexistence between people and bears in the Smoky Mountains region.
The City of Gatlinburg and TWRA have a longstanding partnership, dating back to 1999, when the two parties began to jointly fund a bear management officer position. Additionally, the two entities work in tandem regarding educational initiatives and the crafting of City ordinances, including Gatlinburg’s animal-resistant container ordinance and areas where those receptacles are required.
For the latest updates from the City of Gatlinburg, visit GatlinburgTN.gov or visit the City’s Social Media pages on Facebook and X. Individuals can also keep up with the latest from the City of Gatlinburg by downloading the City’s Mobile App on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store by searching for “City of Gatlinburg”
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