GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) A bear has feasted on pecan logs, caramel apples and other treats at a candy store in the Smoky Mountains resort town Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Employees reporting for work found the bear Wednesday morning at the Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen, where the animal apparently had knocked a hole in a glass front door to enter, according to The Mountain Press (http://bit.ly/orYRBH ).
Police propped open several back doors and made loud noises, and the bear ran into the woods.
The animal had spread candy on the floor, and wrappers and packaging were strewn throughout a back storeroom. Pecan logs had been chewed and chunks were missing out of caramel apples.
Bob Miller of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park said bears are active this time of year, searching for food before hibernation.
Gatlinburg is surrounded by the Smokies Natl park. They have bear traps within a block of the main drag. (Humain box traps) A friend of mine has to suspend his bird feeders on stainless quarter inch cable to put it out of reach of the bears.
He said they have a hunting season--in town every year. Shotguns only.
Snippy (no phan of the place) was there a couple of summers ago having a crappy time at some weird round hotel. Took lunch out to a picnic table in the woods by the parking lot. Yep, quite a surprise....
Not sure how to compare it with Summit '08. Smaller, quieter, faster, more unexpected...
Cy, also no fan of the place, was snowbound there in April, 1987, low on funds, pre-ATM, small children, saw enough of Gatlinburg to suit Mr. and Mrs. Valley for life.
-- Edited by Cy Valley on Saturday 22nd of October 2011 06:36:23 PM
