BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — A Blount County Sheriff's Office deputy fatally shot a black bear Friday after he found it scavenging on the remains of a person who died in a motorcycle crash on "The Dragon" — a popular portion of U.S. Highway 129.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said the deputy encountered the black bear guarding the man's body on Sept. 20. It said the bear weighed up to 175 lbs. and said it was "evident the bear had been scavenging the remains of the body."
It said the deputy tried to get to the man's body when he encountered the bear around 30 yards away. He tried to haze the bear, using techniques effectively meant to intimidate it and urge it to run away, but the TWRA said his attempts to ward it off had no effect.
Instead, it said the bear stayed near the body. So, it said the deputy got his duty rifle and returned to the site. It said he tried to haze it again, but the bear was not affected. The bear then became defensive and approached the deputy, the TWRA said.
"Due to the totality of the circumstances and proximity in the woods, the deputy shot and killed the bear to ensure his safety and that of other first responders," the TWRA said.
Additional information, such as the identity of the motorcycle crash victim, was not immediately available. This story will be updated when more information is available.