GATLINBURG, Tenn. \u2014 Some visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been accused of feeding peanut butter to a bear.<\/p>\n
The feeding was captured on video, and rangers said the visitors confessed and were cited on Saturday, news outlets reported.<\/p>\n
The 100-pound male bear had been feeding on walnuts for several weeks along Cades Cove Loop Road, rangers said. Biologists suspected it was fed by visitors because it started to appear food-conditioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cManaging wild bears in a park that receives more than 12 million visitors is an extreme challenge and we must have the public\u2019s help,\u201d Park Wildlife Biologist Bill Stiver said. \u201cIt is critical that bears never be fed or approached \u2014 for their protection and for human safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bear was tranquilized and marked with an ear tag. It was released in the same general area.<\/p>\n
Park officials say feeding, touching, disturbing or willfully approaching wildlife within 50 yards, or any distance that disturbs or displaces wildlife, is illegal in the park.<\/p>\n