Bear Spotted Walking on Ripley’s Moving Theater in Gatlinburg (Video Included!)

Everyone at Ripley’s Moving Theater in Gatlinburg on Sunday night got an extra show in addition to their movie: a bear walking on top of the theater! Visitors crowded around the theater to observe the scene as the bear walked on the roof. Watch the video of the bear on the theater below:

News4 has contacted Ripley’s Moving Theater to see how they ended up dealing with the bear.

What to Do if You See a Bear

Seeing a bear while you’re on vacation can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. If you encounter a bear during your vacation in the Smoky Mountains, keep these safety tips in mind:

1. Stay at least 50 yards away.
This is the most important tip to keep in mind. Crowding around a bear is extremely dangerous. You don’t want to make it feel threatened in any way, so it’s best to observe it from a safe distance and give the bear its space.

2. Don’t scream or run from the bear.
A bear’s first instinct is not to attack. Most of the time they just want to be left alone. The safest thing to do is to move away slowly and sideways. If you scream or run from the bear, it will most likely chase you.

3. Don’t feed the bear.
Feeding bears causes them to lose their sense of fear of humans and their behavior becomes unpredictable, which can lead to possible attacks. If you have food, make sure to always keep it secured and never leave it unattended.

How to Safely View Bears in the Smoky Mountains:

If you want to safely view bears in the Smoky Mountains, the best places to do so are in Cades Cove and along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, although they can be be seen anywhere throughout the park. Bears are often out more during the early morning and late evening. If you visit Cades Cove between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., your chances of seeing bears are higher because it is cooler and more peaceful during the spring and summer. Bears have been seen wandering around a hillside and up in the trees as well, so keep an eye out because you could see them anywhere!

For more information on wildlife viewing in the Smoky Mountains, check out our guide to spotting your favorite Smoky Mountain wildlife!