Bear at Tennessee amusement park is 'all about this gumbo' before frightening employee
A black bear at Anakeesta amusement park in Gatlinburg wanders into a concession stand called the "Bear Can" before startling an employee. (Credit: Zachary Recchia via Storyful)
A Tennessee black bear was euthanized after a video went viral last week showing the wild animal helping itself to gumbo in a theme park concession stand and injuring a worker, according to wildlife officials.
The bear raided the aptly-named "Bear Can" concession stand at the Anakeesta Mountaintop Adventure Park (AMAP) in Gatlinburg around 9:30 p.m. on June 21, AMAP said in a press release.
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"He is just all about that gumbo," one witness is overheard saying in the video shot by Zachary Recchia.
In the footage, the bear is seen helping itself to food and staring at bewildered customers while standing on its hind legs before turning to leave as an unsuspecting worker enters the doorway of the stand. The beast lunges and swats at the female employee, who stepped back before dropping a large pot and alertly running into the stand and slamming the door shut.
The black bear was euthanized over the weekend after causing minor injuries to an amusement park employee in Gatlinburg. (Zachary Recchia via Storyful)
The employee sustained minor injuries to her arm and her back from the incident, according to wildlife officials.
"The bear and employee made brief physical contact. The employee in the video was not seriously injured and opted not to receive medical attention."
After the incident, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) searched the perimeter for black bears. On Monday, the TWRA released a statement that it had discovered a bear matching the video's description and euthanized the animal, according to WVLT-TV.
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The black bear can be seen on video lunging at and pawing at a female employee of the "Bear Can." The worker sustained minor injuries. (Zachary Recchia via Storyful)
AMAP told Fox News Digital in an email that "Anakeesta is dedicated to working closely with agencies like TWRA to limit occurrences like this."
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TWRA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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