x
Breaking News
More () »

A closed van door doesn't stop a curious momma bear & her cubs

This is the same general area where a similar scene was captured on camera in early July, so who knows? It could be the same momma bear, up to her old tricks again.

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Here's yet more proof that a closed door is no obstacle for a curious Smoky Mountain bear.

Anthony Smith was heading up Upper Alpine Way in Gatlinburg on Thursday when he spotted a bear. Then another. And another!

He slowed down as a mother bear and her two cubs hopped out of the woods and onto the road. They were heading straight towards a minivan parked outside a rental cabin.

Smith has a dashcam in his van and wanted to capture what happened on video, so he moved forward slowly to get a better view.

RELATED: Momma bear opens van doors to see what's inside

RELATED: Adorable! Watch as Gatlinburg bear cubs hop in a hot tub to beat the heat, cuddle with mom

RELATED: Tourists in the Smokies learn about bear safety

As he watched, the momma bear stood up on two legs and popped the handle on the side door of the van, and it slid right open!

She peeked inside and looked around, but after a quick glance over her shoulder, she walks away, followed by one of the cubs.

The other little guy does jump inside the van for a few seconds but then scampers off after mom.

RELATED: Bear breaks into house, leaves by pushing through wall ‘like the Kool-Aid Man’

RELATED: Woman knocked over by bear during hike on Appalachian Trail

RELATED: Weeks after bear video goes viral, Smokies officials hope people actually get the message about approaching wildlife

As he watched, the momma bear stood up on two legs and popped the handle on the side door of the van, and it slid right open!

She peeked inside and looked around, but after a quick glance over her shoulder, she walks away, followed by one of the cubs.

The other little guy does jump inside the van for a few seconds but then scampers off after mom.

RELATED: Bears, bears, everywhere! TWRA seeing plenty of black bear activity this year

RELATED: New placemat teaches tourists bear safety

RELATED: WATCH: A Cades Cove visitor confronted a momma bear and her cubs, so she charged

Smith said a man came out of the cabin during the encounter, and he called to warn the man to go back inside. The owner was able to close the van door by remote after it was vacated by the bears. Bet he locked it this time!

This is the same general area where a similar scene was captured on camera in early July, so who knows? It could be the same momma bear, up to her old tricks again.

When visiting the Smokies, experts advise people not to leave any food inside their vehicles because a hungry bear will get inside if it really wants to. A locked door is a bit more of a deterrent than an unlocked one.

MORE SMOKY MOUNTAIN BEAR STORIES:

RELATED: TWRA tests targeting tourists' phones with bear safety info

RELATED: Mama, wait up! Four famously adorable baby bears frolic around Wears Valley

RELATED: Summer means momma bears are forcing yearling cubs out on their own

RELATED: Four big black bears try to get into Sevierville home

RELATED: This trio of popcorn-lovin' bears made easy work of a family's brand new Silverado

RELATED: Bear takes a dip in hot tub at Gatlinburg cabin

RELATED: WATCH: Hungry Bear steals lunch straight out of Wears Valley woman's car overnight

RELATED: GPS study: nearly all bears leave Smokies for food

Before You Leave, Check This Out