Every year, numerous black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains tragically lose their lives. These beautiful creatures are euthanized due to encounters with humans - encounters that increasingly occur while they're searching for food. Our expanding presence in their natural habitat makes these encounters inevitable. This issue is deeply personal to me and countless others who see the unnecessary loss of these bears' lives as preventable.

Many aren't aware that feeding bears can condition them to seek more human food, which increases the likelihood of human-bear encounters. To curtail this, we propose making it a crime in the state of Tennessee to feed wild black bears.

Moreover, for encounters with humans that do not result in significant injury, we implore the relevant authorities to refrain from euthanizing these bears. The sad reality is that, according to the Bear Wise program, 90% of black bears relocated after being deemed a nuisance or threat to human safety, return or are killed (source: Bear Wise Program). We need a solution that respects and protects these creatures, without resorting to such drastic and final measures.

Bearing in mind the importance of coexisting with these majestic creatures and preserving their population, which is critical for a healthy ecosystem, this is a call for change. Please join us in urging Tennessee lawmakers to protect our black bears and hold humans accountable. Sign this petition now. Help ensure these bears' encounters with humans don't end in unnecessary loss of life.