Foolhardy young woman and the bear

Visiting the Cades Cove area of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and came upon this brave, actually foolhardy, young woman and the napping Black Bear.

Warning signs throughout the nature area say for safety, stay at least 50 yards from wild life, but there are always those folk who seem to know more than the experts. There were dozens of automobiles stopped on the little one way road, and most of the tourist were lined up behind the young woman snapping pictures.

We did not stop, but drove slowly by the side show. I suspect that had not there been so many tourists snapping and oogling, we may have stopped, but we didn't.

Was an interesting experience nonetheless. The bear seemed oblivious to his (or her) audience. That's probably because the bear is accustomed to being harassed by the hundreds of people who visit the National Park daily.

see: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

keep smilin'