Family spots two bear cubs on porch

ABC News posted footage on May 20 showing two black bear cubs wrestling on the front porch of a Tennessee cabin, turning a family’s vacation video into a small wildlife story. The clip showed the cubs tumbling and pawing at each other outside the rental. (youtube.com) ABC said the family had been surprised by the encounter while staying at the cabin in Tennessee. A separate clip distributed online identified the sighting as Sevierville, near the Great Smoky Mountains. (msn.com) ### Where did the cubs show up? Sevierville, Tennessee, was identified in online video coverage as the place where the cubs were filmed on a cabin porch. (nps.gov) The city sits near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the best-known black bear habitats in the eastern United States. Great Smoky Mountains National Park says the area is “Bear Country” and reported an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters annually over the last 10 years. The park also said high bear activity can occur in any area and that visitor safety is not guaranteed. (youtube.com) ### Why are cubs showing up around cabins now? Spring is a period of increased bear activity in the Smokies, according to the National Park Service. Rangers said in an April 20 release that black bear activity rises during spring and that mother bears are emerging from dens with young cubs while searching for limited early-season food sources. (msn.com) The National Park Service says the park is home to about 1,900 American black bears. That combination of a large bear population and roughly 12 million annual visitors increases the likelihood of encounters, the agency said. (nps.gov) ### Was the scene harmless because the cubs were playing? Two cubs play-fighting can look routine, but wildlife agencies warn that cubs should not be treated as harmless. The National Park Service says visitors should stay alert, be ready to respond and avoid close interaction in bear habitat. (nps.gov) Mother bears are often nearby even when they are not visible in a short video. Guidance cited by regional wildlife reporting and park safety material warns people not to approach cubs or get between a sow and her young. (nps.gov) ### What do officials tell visitors to do if they see bears? Great Smoky Mountains National Park says visitors should check current bear closures and warnings before heading into the park. The agency also says unusual bear encounters inside the park should be reported by phone or at a visitor center. (nps.gov) The park issued another warning on April 20 after several bear-related incidents, including cases in which a bear approached visitors, took backpacks and briefly chased a group. Rangers closed parts of the park as they monitored activity. (828newsnow.com) ### What happens next for travelers in the area? May 2026 is part of the Smokies’ active bear season, and park officials say visitors should expect the possibility of encounters. The next practical step for travelers staying in Sevierville, Gatlinburg or near the national park is to monitor Great Smoky Mountains bear warnings and closures before heading out. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2)