Bear-y unusual traffic jam pawses park visitors in their tracks as GSMNP rescues cub

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (WLOS) — A young black bear caused quite the “bear jam” in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in October.

According to a social media post from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the young bear was rescued from a steep bank on Laurel Creek Road.

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The Park Service says the young bear was likely spooked by traffic on the road and scrambled up the bank.

Visitors to the park stopped to watch the “bear jam,” trapping the bear and creating a dangerous situation.

“While we usually let wildlife navigate their environment without interference, this situation called for action. A coordinated team of law enforcement, wildlife biologists, preventive search and rescue (PSAR) rangers, and maintenance crews stepped in,” the Park Service said in the post.

According to the Park Service, law enforcement managed traffic as biologists safely tranquilized the bear to prevent injuries. PSAR staff rappelled down the cliff to help guide the bear into a backhoe bucket.

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The Park Service wants to remind visitors how to help protect the bears of the Smokies by doing the following:

Observe wildlife from a distanceAvoid stopping in the roadwayAbide by posted speed limits