500-Pound Bear Captured Near Tennessee University, Relocated

GREENEVILLE, TN — A 500-pound black bear was captured near Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, and relocated to a remote area in Cherokee National Forest last week, according to officials from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The bear had become habituated to being close to humans and a diet that included garbage, birdseed, and pet food. Officials decided to trap the bear because of an increase in its activity and property damage over the past year, the agency said.

A first attempt at trapping the bear was unsuccessful because it temporarily changed its routine and travel path, but TWRA officials later located the bear and trapped it with a tranquilizer. With help from the Greeneville Fire Department, the agency moved the bear into a large cage and took the bear to its new habitat, according to TWRA.

Much of the public's reaction on social media to the agency's relocation efforts marveled at the size of the bear. One lady was happy to see the animal unharmed.

"I love to see any wildlife get a second chance, it's nice to see him relocated," the Facebook user said.

The bear is at the high end in terms of size of black bears, which range between 100 and 600 pounds, according to the U.S. National Parks Service.

Black bears are intelligent, and those that are fed human food will begin to associate areas such as campsites, garbage and even cars with food. Habituated bears present a danger to humans, according to the National Parks Service.