NEWPORT, Tenn. (WSMV) – A mother bear and her cubs paid an East Tennessee woman a visit over the weekend, and she managed to film the whole encounter on her phone.
Janet Whitlock said she was wrapping up an afternoon with her brother at her home in Newport, Tennessee, when her brother spotted a mother bear and her three cubs standing next to the barn in the backyard.
Whitlock and her brother then watched as the troop made its way across her backyard and over to her pool deck. The inviting pool water was too much for the mother bear to resist, as she promptly jumped in with her cubs looking on.
The refreshed bear then cautiously climbed out of the pool and continued on her way with her three little ones in tow.
Bear sightings are ramping up across Tennessee as the temperatures continue to rise.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reminds everyone to be smart during these encounters and to follow these BearWise basics:
Never feed or approach bearsSecure food, garbage and recyclingRemove bird feeders when bears are activeNever leave pet food outdoorsClean and store grills and smokersAlert neighbors to bear activity
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