Tennessee Woman’s Quick Thinking As Black Bear Approaches on Busy Street

A video of a bear “taking a late-night stroll” on a street in Tennessee has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip captured around the Great Smoky Mountains area of Tennessee was posted by Jordyn Rogers (@jordynrogers60) and shows a black bear casually walking down a busy city street in Gatlinburg.
Since being posted on October 7, the video has garnered over 2.3 million views, leaving social media users both fascinated and concerned for the animal’s safety.
In a caption shared with the video, the poster describes how she and her boyfriend “ran face first into this big guy” while walking down the main strip of Gatlinburg.
The couple appear to be waiting inside a shop as the bear calmly walks by along a sidewalk, passing stores and navigating the bustling street as cars slow down to observe the unusual scene.
Nestled at the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is home to one of the largest protected black bear populations in the eastern United States. According to the National Park Service, roughly 1,900 black bears inhabit the park, a density of about two bears per square mile. “Bears inhabit all elevations of the park,” the NPS website states, though their range has significantly decreased due to habitat loss.
Conservationist and wildlife expert Regina Domingo is the founder of the Nakawe Project, a nonprofit focused on wildlife conservation and sustainable ecotourism development. She told Newsweek: “Bears are incredible creatures, and in places like the Smoky Mountains they’re an essential part of the natural balance.”
However, as urban development encroaches on their habitats, some may wonder why bears are approaching cities.
“The simple answer is food,” Domingo said. “As humans build deeper into wild habitats, bears are drawn to urban areas, looking for easy meals from garbage, bird feeders and pet food. In late spring and early summer, their natural food—like berries, nuts, and grasses—can become scarce, pushing them closer to our homes. But this leads to a problem—when bears start finding food in cities, they can lose their natural fear of people, which is dangerous for both them and us.”
“Bears belong in the wild, not in our cities,” Domingo added. “By respecting their habitats and taking simple precautions, we can help ensure they stay wild and safe.”
She advised people to secure trash, remove bird feeders and keep pet food indoors to reduce the chances of attracting bears. If a person does encounter a bear, staying calm, making oneself appear larger, and using noise to encourage the bear to leave is recommended.
The black bear’s appearance in Gatlinburg reflects the increasing frequency of human-wildlife interactions as animals venture closer to urban areas. While it can be exciting to spot such creatures in the wild, experts like Domingo stress the importance of maintaining a respectful distance and taking steps to minimize these encounters for the safety of both animals and people.
TikTok users reacted with a mix of awe and concern. One user, @spacebabyuk, commented, “That poor bear must be so confused” and @hazel.white8 said, “This gorgeous bear must be so scared! Hope it’s safe somewhere.”
User @dysfunctional_donna urged action: “This bear needs to be relocated for his own safety. Humans act like morons around wild animals.”
Other viewers marveled at the sight, with Laura Lee writing: “Bear is chill, just taking a late-night stroll.”
@TheLastPoet said, “i audibly said WOAH” and @Dopo Moraja simply said, “Omg awesome.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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