GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Since 1999, the City of Gatlinburg and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) have had a partnership which is aimed at reducing human and black bear encounters.
In addition to the two parties co-funding a Bear Management Officer position, the entities worked together to adopt Ordinance 2188, which established an Animal Resistant Garbage Device Zone, which outlined specific areas where bear resistant dumpsters and garbage cans are required.
Within this zone, properties are required to have garbage storage containers that shall be resistant to animals being able to open, overturn, or remove garbage from, or be of a design approved by the City’s Public Works Department. In addition to properties within the zone, all restaurants within the Gatlinburg corporate limits are required to have animal-resistant containers.
Properties included in the initial area which required animal-resistant containers were the entire area within the city limits of Gatlinburg on the west side of the Foothills Parkway, the area north of the National Park Service boundary on either side of the western prong of the Little Pigeon River, between Parkway and the Foothills Parkway boundary bounded on the north by Leconte Street and the Skyland Park and Winfield Heights subdivision, the entire corporate limits from Low Gap Road on the east and to the south of Highway 321 and Parkway will be required to provide animal resistant garbage containers for their refuse.
In September 2023, the Gatlinburg City Commission passed Ordinance 2602, which expanded the areas required to use animal-resistant containers, which included the remainder of properties in the City’s C-A Zone and all properties north of East Parkway between its intersection at Traffic Light No. 3 and Roaring Fork Road.
The requirement to have such a receptacle does not apply to containers that are located inside a structure such as a house, building, or other enclosed structure that does not allow entry by scavenging animals.
If you have any questions about animal-resistant containers, please call the City of Gatlinburg Sanitation Department at (865) 436-5959.
In addition to the City Ordinances, TWRA filed Proclamation 00-17 in August of 2000, which prohibits the intentional or incidental feeding of bears.
Violations of the City Ordinance are subject to a fine and court costs of $113.75, while the violation of the TWRA Proclamation is a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by fines, as well as possible community service.
Animal Resistant Dumpster Program
In September 2023, the Gatlinburg City Commission also approved an Animal Resistant Dumpster Program, aimed at eliminating dumpsters as a food source for bears.
The City Commission appropriated approximately $3 million to purchase 460 dumpsters, which will be owned and maintained by the City of Gatlinburg. In addition to funding the purchase of these dumpsters, the City Commission also approved the addition of a full-time employee to oversee the maintenance of these containers an densure that each of them are working properly.
In addition to garbage collection from these containers, which is performed by the Saniation Department 364 days a year, the City also provides an opportunity for individuals to dispose of garbage at its Heiden Drive collection center, which is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. seven days a week.
BearWise Basics
The City also reminds citizens and visitors to follow the six BearWise Basics to reduce human-bear encounters.
· Never feed or approach bears.
· Secure food, garbage and recycling.
· Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
· Never leave pet food outside.
· Clean and store grills.
· Know what to do if you see a bear. Black bears are seldom aggressive and attacks are rare, but if you see a bear before it notices you stand still, don’t approach and enjoy the moment; then move away quietly in the opposite direction. If you encounter a bear that is aware of you, don’t run, as running may trigger a chase response. Back away slowly. Make sure bears are not cornered and have an escape route during any encounters.
The City also encourages its visitors to follow the How to be a Bearwise Guest tips and for its lodging and rental property owners to follow the BearWise Lodging Safety Tips.
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