Black bear tranquilized, relocated after visiting picnic site in Cades Cove

Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — Several people witnessed a black bear up close at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tuesday.

According to a post from Adventure Is Out There, Beth Hritz said the bear hung around the area until park rangers responded. She said they determined it was a "food-aggressive bear" and had to be tranquilized and relocated. 

Hritz said once the bear was caught, it was put on a table and the lead medical ranger allowed a handful of people to come and see how it was processed with an ear tag, chip and tattoo. 

The bear was not harmed, according to Hritz. 

Knowing what to do if you see a bear is also a great reminder. The big step stressed by both the park and BearWise is for visitors to keep their distance.

• Do not allow the bear to approach you.
• If the bear is at a distance, feeding, or walking by and notices you but continues its natural behavior, no action is needed on your part. Proceed while continuing to observe the bear.
• If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close.

Being too close to a bear may cause it to become aggressive, so keeping distance is key when it comes to watching the wildlife. 

But what should you do if a bear sees you? 

The park provides many steps on what to do when being approached by a black bear.

• If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground.
• If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it.
• Act aggressively to intimidate the bear.
• Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).
• Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear.
• Use a deterrent such as a stout stick.

The park also said to use bear spray if any is available, not to leave food for the bear and not to turn or run away. 

If the bear has no interest in food and is becoming hostile, the park said to fight back aggressively and not play dead. 

You can find more ways to be bear-safe here or visit BearWise's website.