Sevierville Homeowner Fatally Shoots Black Bear After Home Invasion

A black bear broke into an occupied home in Sevierville, Tennessee, prompting the elderly homeowner to fatally shoot the yearling male bear outside the house after it fled the residence but remained on the property. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) investigated and found no violations, affirming that the homeowner acted to protect his safety and noting that under their human–bear conflict matrix, bears entering homes are typically captured and humanely euthanized. TWRA officials highlighted that such behavior is unusual but can develop when bears become habituated to human food sources from unsecured garbage, birdseed, or pet food, a recurring problem in the area causing multiple conflicts. The agency urged residents to secure potential attractants to prevent similar incidents and provided resources at BearWise.org for coexisting safely with bears. In 2024, TWRA has euthanized more bears than average due to conflicts and injuries, emphasizing the ongoing challenges of managing human-bear interactions in East Tennessee. Despite precautions by some residents, habituated bears still pose safety risks, often leading to tragic outcomes like this one.