NASHVILLE — In advance of summer travel and to help preserve Tennessee's natural beauty, and protect both wildlife and visitors along the state’s scenic byways, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are reminding residents and visitors to be vigilant and safe during the summer travel season, especially when it comes to bears. “Black bears are one of Tennessee’s state treasures and it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep them wild and keep them alive,” said Dan Gibbs, TWRA black bear coordinator. “Bear management experience has shown that bears attracted to human food sources, or that are deliberately fed by humans, have a relatively short life.
” According to TWRA’s bear-conflict reports, the summer travel season is also when bears in Tennessee become more active. “Our bear population is approximately 5,000-6,000 statewide, with the majority found east of Cookeville,” said Gibbs. “We are getting more reports from Middle Tennessee each year with an occasional sighting from West Tennessee.
” TWRA receives more than 1,200 bear conflict reports annually, which does not include reports from local, state and national parks, police departments and other agencies. Eighty percent of the calls are related to bears accessing trash. TDOT also sees an uptick in litter on the state’s roadways and along scenic byways in the summer and reminds residents that food waste is litter, which attracts animals to roadways, endan.
