Two roads diverged in a writer’s mind, and the story that was to be is just going to have to wait another week. As I was researching my planned subject for today scanning through a newspaper from 1964, I saw another story on the same page that changed my direction entirely.

So, strap in, I’m jumping on my high horse, and I’ve got a burr in my saddle.

The article responsible for my diversion ran in The Knoxville News Sentinel June 18, 1964. It was a letter to the editor under the “General Knox Opens His Mail” column. A Mrs. Tessa Unthank of North Carolina had written in with her concerns about a bear cub tethered near the highway at a roadside stand somewhere between Knoxville and Gatlinburg. She was, rightfully, appalled, noted the bear’s “sickly and unhappy” disposition, and the rudeness of the fellow responsible because passersby were trying to take photos without paying him $1 first. She wanted the good General to take it up with the proper authorities to put a stop to it. On top of the blatant animal abuse, it made Tennessee look bad.

While I’m still several years from collecting Medicare and Social Security, I am old enough to remember driving through Pigeon Forge when the Parkway wasn’t jam packed from Sevierville to the Wild Bear Tavern. There were the odd attractions here and there, among them the occasional black bear in a cage accompanying a business of some sort. It wasn’t something we ever stopped for, and I am thankful they are non-existent now.

Which brings me to the burr in my saddle. This past week the Appalachian Bear Rescue (see previous story here) in Blount County took in its 27th cub of the year (Plum) while also bringing in a yearling (Spruce). Spruce has been failing to thrive after separation from his mother (all cubs leave their moms at about 18 months of age). Plum’s situation is a whole other tragedy, and one that has repeated itself this year.

ABR has now taken in 32 bears this year, 28 still in residence. They have capacity for 40-41. Their record for one year is 36, which has happened twice, in 2011 and 2015. In both those years, according to ABR, the high number of intakes was due to mast (food) crop failure. Bears were starving. That is not the cause for the high number this year.

Of the 27 cubs, 12 of them are there because their mothers had to be euthanized due to dangerous behavior because of acclimation to humans, mostly from being fed directly, access to bird feeders/garbage, unlocked cars with food inside, etc. Plum’s mother had been harassing visitors to a cabin who hadn’t done anything wrong, but obviously previous renters did. It was a death sentence for this mama bear.

With 10 of the remaining cubs, either their mothers were hit and killed by cars or they were hit and injured by one. So, per ABR, 22 of the 27 cubs are in baby bear rehab and re-wilding because of conflicts with humans. And in case you are confused, all conflicts between wildlife and humans are OUR fault and OUR responsibility to correct. Humanely.

I know it feels like I’m yelling at you, and, I am. Over the past several years, I have witnessed some pretty abhorrent behavior by visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Almost two years ago it was folks releasing balloons from the Newfound Gap Overlook. I was too far away to try to intervene (and, yes, I would). It’s illegal in the park, and even where it isn’t, STOP IT. Stop doing it. Period. It’s just littering and detrimental to wildlife.

A friend and I were on our way to Oconoluftee to see the elk. Once we got there, we took a stroll on the river walk. I got some great photos of a big bull in the river. From a safe distance, of course, because I have a real camera with a big zoom. No, you cannot get those close-up, clear pictures from a safe distance with the camera on your cell phone. So stop trying. While there, like clockwork, we could a hear a ranger, yelling at the tourons, while running across the field by the visitors center, to get away from the elk herd. The RUNNING elk herd.

Yes, I’ve kind of gone off on a rant here, and don’t get me started on the goings on in Cades Coves or the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. There is no reason in the year 2024 and with all the “how to act outside” information readily available on Dolly Parton’s internet for people to go out into the wilderness and act so damned ignorant.

Mind your manners, leave no trace, and leave the wildlife children alone.

Check out Bear Wise for information on how to live responsibly with bears. Go here for more information or to make a donation to ABR. Check out the photos of the current cubs in residence on the ABR Facebook page.

Beth Kinnane writes a history feature for KnoxTNToday.com. It’s published each Tuesday and is one of our best-read features.

Sources: Appalachian Bear Rescue, The Knoxville News-Sentinel digital archives, National Park Service