A mountain coaster rider's close encounter with a bear & her cubs at Anakeesta

[@CaboWabotv]

those mountain coasters are like a human sushi train for hungry bears

[@vegasaviation2243]

This takes thrill ride to a whole new level

[@woodsandcreek7589]

The cheerful commentary on the bears enjoying fresh mountain air is nice. However, those are still protective, and potentially dangerous mother bears!

[@juliebryne2903]

Its their home! Dont build tourist traps in their home!

[@CharlieD.706]

@@juliebryne2903 so level your home and plant trees.. give the land back that you took from the wildlife.

[@juliebryne2903]

@@CharlieD.706 this is not a home but unnecessary building for no reason.i dont live very far from there and live with wildlife.i just let them be and do their thing.ppl not so much!

[@CharlieD.706]

@@juliebryne2903 there’s thousands of acres of untouched wilderness. Do you know how small gatlinburg is?

[@karina.almodovar]

i’m not kidding this happened to me too a year ago, but i wasn’t able to stop the alpine coaster because it was going upwards

[@johnnychambers6969]

She walked right up to me when we was building this coaster

[@johnmoser2689]

One of the many reasons I love Gatlinburg

[@karmajones5683]

I believe Anna and her cubs busted us every morning while staying in a chalet in the area. We stayed in an amazing Chalet called Cherokee Winds...I can't remember the management name at the moment... but you can just google the name as a gatlinburg chalet and it'll pop up. We have video of the cubs climbed trees over three stories high... Momma Bear nursing both cubs...and momma bear scratching her backside on a tree...💜💜💜💜 Every morning while enjoying our coffee on the balcony we enjoyed them!! Best part of our trip!! It brought me peace during our trip because I was there for my Father's Memorial. His nickname for over 40yrs was Poppa Bear....I felt as if he had sent them...💜💜💜 💜💜💜

[@livenfree]

Can you post ur. Videos to. Your. KZbin would be cool.

[@demonrouge3338]

He did ❤️

[@tywil5366]

The location is right in the middle of their "natural path". I can understand the bears moving through for their cubs. Last time I was there 4 years ago they lit up momma with frozen paintballs and said if she comes back in the same day they're going to have to uthinlize her. I'm happy to see a good ending.😊

[@coastingalong]

that makes sense because naturally black bears will stay away if scared which is 99% of the time but if they comeback that means they are really aggressive or psychotic which would most likely be due to an illness

[@josephshields2922]

@@coastingalong So its normal to scare a bear out of its own territory but no problem with sticking a roller coaster in the middle of a forest? This tourist attraction belongs in town which has already been turned into an eyesore.

[@coastingalong]

@@josephshields2922 i mean yea…. black bears will scare themselves out of their own territory just from seeing their shadow

[@juliamadison5701]

There shouldn’t be thrill rides within bear territory..cant people just go to to six flags or something?

[@KretinzUnited]

Dilemma, do you accelerate or slow down to your death when going down the ride?

[@karmajones5683]

You control the sled yourself...

[@KretinzUnited]

@@karmajones5683 🤦🏻 🤦🏼‍♂️ 🤦‍♀️

[@negativenarwhals]

@@karmajones5683 you're joking right?

[@mushieslushie]

@@negativenarwhals No, but this was on the lift hill.

[@negativenarwhals]

@@mushieslushie really? the lift hills go down then up? kinda weird, I woulda thought it would be cheaper to just build a little bridge or something

[@mzzmary1]

While we were there earlier this year we saw a bear in that same spot soon after some kids had finished their ride on the Lil coaster. It didn't bother us and no one bothered it either. It's not a big deal, ppl wanna experience our mountains, well guess what!? We have wildlife in those mountains, it's their home and they're curious. I for one love that the whole place isn't fenced in. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

[@kblongespee9225]

Omg omg omg omg We were just there. We saw 5 different bears and cubs. We were only there 5 days. It’s scary cuz they are coming out more and more. PEOPPE need to know they’re not “adorable” they are wild aniamls will kill a human being

[@StevenTorrey]

I would hate to think who would get hurt in a collitison like that: bear or roller coaster rider. Suspect it would not end well for either.

[@Kissypooh]

Thank you for not showing how the encounter resolved. Bravo! Great journalism. Just cut off the video and keep everybody guessing forever!

[@bobdavis1895]

The ending was too gruesome to show.

[@richardporter6686]

Each coaster car have brakes and the rider can stop or slow down--thankfully looks like they were at a safe distance to stop in time

[@crooked-halo]

I don't understand why the rider didn't stop when he/she saw the bears on the track, but instead crept slowly forward, ever closer to potentially dangerous momma bear!

[@jasonplant5432]

Oh that's just great a momma bear with three cubs and the person. That poor human. Can't escape that little cart.and every second getting closer.to a mother bear with three cubs. Just watching that made me completely aware that some professionals are professional at the very act of misleading or false information. Did you see how that mother bear was Introduced? I easily got the message that interacting with this soft tender loving g always smiling bear whould be a privilege not a nightmare when in fact the exact opposite is true.

[@OG_Wonder_Woman]

Yep. They are habituated to humans because 'cute bears' sells and it's a tourist trap. Someone is going to get killed, horrifically, and I'm afraid it's gonna be a child. I would bet they are breaking federal laws on bear interactions. Someone needs to stop this before the tragedy, instead of waiting until it's too late.

[@danielkandi4582]

Basically... Running sushi.... for bears.... !

[@Doggeslife]

Why does the video keep cutting off prematurely? Is there more footage of the encounter?

[@richardcrainium9343]

Bears ARE super cute right up until ma ma bear rips you apart for coming too close to her cubs. How can this park not be responsible for the safety of the people and the animals

[@Doggeslife]

How can they be? It's wildlife, not park-owned pets.

[@richardcrainium9343]

@@Doggeslife use a fence on both sides of the track easy and coast effective. Any other questions a 5 year old could answer?

[@lemonboy5772]

Richard Crainium that would be awful to put up fences and restrict animal movement. if anything the ride should be removed. and don’t be mean there’s no need for that!

[@richardcrainium9343]

@@lemonboy5772 mean...mean... Your right sorry

[@juliebryne2903]

All mothers human and otherwise are overprotective of their young! You go and build tourist traps right in the middle of the bears home thats on you! Not the bears fault for being bears!

[@CPS751]

Just rode this a few days ago. 😳 Glad I didn't run into Anna. 😁

[@msharp138]

Smh...If you are going to have a mountain coaster then somehow it needs to be fenced in or something. You just can't go zooming by bears with no protection and think it's OK...

[@josephshields2922]

That's why we always put them in amusement parks, not in the middle of nowhere. Another problem is mountain bikers who invade wildlife habitat and ride on game trails and hiking trails at high speed endangering both.

[@sharonbrown2468]

Those people are nuts acting like the bears are so cute and harmless! Just wait until a bear harms someone, I bet they will blame the human!

[@josephshields2922]

Duh yeah, if a human builds a roller coaster in the middle of the woods and then runs the bear over with his coaster car.

[@johnwilson3419]

I wonder how Scrappy got his name? 😂😂😂

[@kirbywaite1586]

Talk about putting a positive spin on things!

[@karentrejo1714]

This is not the first time it happens, when I went back in 2019 there was a kid on that same coaster in anakeesta and a bear walked across it, just like this bear did. Then bear ran-away. I was scared for the kid but apparently the ones who know about this area and more knowledgeable staff are not concerned for a reason. I trust that they know what the risks are and that they have a protocol in place. Plus the coaster has a sensor and won’t allow the coaster to get too close to a bear encounter or other coasters.

[@billybob-ro6qf]

the coaster may stop, but the bear doesn't have to LOL. Bear could come right after the one in the coaster if it decided to.

[@juliebryne2903]

REMOVE THE COASTER AND STOP PUTTING THINGS LIKE THIS UP IN THE BEARS HOME!😡

[@shortshorts920]

@@juliebryne2903 bears home is the national park in which this is next to and not in.

[@DirtyDanDOG]

I see those rides every time I go to dolly wood which I could go to Dollywood every day since I live like 30 minutes from it

[@sarzbeth]

This is one of those times you just close your eyes...brace yourself.. And hope for the best 👌

[@richardporter6686]

Or just pull the handle back and stop, rides can control speed or stop

[@taylorgangchatt]

I bet she is glad she didn’t meet “SCRAPPY” instead 😂

[@Youre_Right]

Here in East Tennessee you get used to occasional bear sightings. Even down in the valley. I’ve seen bears in Knoxville. There was one in my neighborhood in north Knoxville one time. I remember one being on UT campus one time. When food is sparse they will come into the valley. They also live in the Cumberland mountains so you get them from both areas.

[@carieevans3787]

I was just there! I woulda been more scared that someone was about to blast me from behind cuz those things can go fast! The rider controls the speed.

[@tnaccountability7455]

I graduated with Beth. She was a reoorter for the high school

[@genemars5158]

I love the stance the park staff takes on bears. This is a place I'd love to visit someday.

[@mzzmary1]

It's breathtaking! I hope you can make it out soon, Christmastime at Anakeesta is magical

[@stellak-m7746]

😢😢😢

[@CottonBalllllll]

A female bear and 3 cubs = Merida's mom and 3 little brothers from movie Brave hehe

[@denisebethany5691]

I wondered if this ever happened on these rides.

[@dcrane62]

I always wonder about a bear crossing as I go down these rides. I haven't done the one at Anakeesta yet.

[@septemberquest6393]

Brilliant idea to put a coaster in 🐻 bear territory....if someone gets mauled they may sue.....

[@shortshorts920]

Yeah an you can go walk right through the mountains completely alone an get mauled. Wtf is the difference. Know the risks before you go.

[@D-A-1776]

People are stupid if they think bears are friendly, never go hiking without a gun in bear country

[@josephshields2922]

Should they carry guns on the roller coaster too?

[@D-A-1776]

​@@josephshields2922 yep

[@charlesyates6687]

Black bears generally will not attac but moma and cubs stear clear couse she will be extremely sencitive and protective of her cubs and if she gets spooked yes she can and will attack.

[@josephshields2922]

Cub defense is a Grizzly bear trait and not generally associated with Black Bears. They usually run away and the cubs will climb trees, The Grizzly bears evolved on the Praire where there are few trees so moms who didn't defend their cubs did not see their genes passed on to future generations. You are statistically in no more danger from BB moms with cubs than from any other Black Bears. Striking a Black Bear with a coaster car could be dangerous however if it thinks you are attacking it as it will defend itself if it has no escape route. Not a good idea to put them in the highest density bear area, What was the State thinking of when they gave out the permit?

[@RMwhite]

THATS MY DADDY! 😂

[@steedblackman1615]

You can take the wild life out of the zoo but you can't take the zoo out of the wild life. At least until a Human is taking unwarranted risks without a reasonable thought to unforseen consequences.

[@lj6852]

Sorry I'm sure Ana is a great bear but with Cubs they wont be so friendly. I'm good

[@jkattravels]

This ride is so fun. My fiancé and I ended up riding it three times lol

[@James-ke5sx]

I hate it when they tell you there's a video and all they do is talk talk and don't show you the video

[@Allyourbase1990]

When we were camping in the 90s we had black bears come to our camp around this same area . I was probably 3 years old and was loving it 😂😂😂

[@trueloveingod2691]

I wish bears weren’t aggressive or carnivores because they’re otherwise so cute and cuddly.

[@paulaholbrook3913]

I'll be there in a month can't wait to get back to Tennessee for our vacation.

[@bigaparker1977]

Yeah the bears enjoy YOUR mountain air, like their the visitors

[@davidburkholder7360]

Lots of bear attacks within last year and half. One death. I agree that these bears are cute as ever but too many folks are focusing on "cuteness" and not the fact that these bears can kill quickly and do, can be canabalistic and are. I fear that more are gonna get hurt until much more understanding is demonstrated by folks like this woman speaking who truly herself is not confronting that these bears can be deadly.

[@atomicplaygirl66]

1:05 Maintain your distance !!!! Laws of gravity be darned. 😂 ❤❤❤

[@92spice18]

No thank you.

[@MakeYourDay_Good]

I rode on that!

[@curtisconley9665]

if you are anywhere in gatlinburg you are guaranteed to have an encounter with a bear within 24 hours

[@emcee2603]

I stayed in the cabin when I visited 😂

[@guineapiglady2841]

Don't hit the bears!

[@user-rr3yw9dn1l]

They need to relocate them.

[@josephshields2922]

No, they need to relocate the roller coaster. You don't invade a wilderness area with a nonessential amusement and then relocate the wildlife. They should never have been allowed to put it there in the first place.

[@Jon-fh6nf]

If I'm gonna ride a mountain coaster, bring a large caliber gun and bear spray.......noted.

[@juliebryne2903]

I say get rid of the coasters and all the tourist traps and leave the bears be!😡

[@Bossman_71]

What is bear protocol ? A shot gun

[@kelleyedwards3351]

Bear protocol??? LOL Do you mean running away as fast as they can?

[@THESEADOG82]

There really needs to be more hunting

[@randolphlex714]

The bears are tame relax you wet noodles out there

[@mrkumai]

There no such thing as a "tamed' bear.

[@billybob-ro6qf]

@@mrkumai not now but there will be when Jesus returns & all animals will be good again like they once were at Creation. The lion & lamb shall lie down next to one another, a child shall play by a snakes den with no harm. So thankful for JESUS the PRINCE of PEACE, King of Kings & Lord of Lords.

[@josephshields2922]

@@billybob-ro6qf Please read the rest of that. For that to happen humans first have to learn to get along with each other.