Deputy shoots, kills bear guarding body of crash victim on popular scenic highway

BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray news) - A deputy shot and killed a bear that was reportedly scavenging the body of a man killed in a crash on a popular scenic highway in Tennessee.

A deputy responded to a fatal motorcycle crash near mile marker 8 on U.S. 129, also referred to as “The Dragon,” according to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.

At the scene, the deputy found a male black bear, approximately 150-175 pounds, guarding the body of the victim.

“It was evident the bear had been scavenging the remains of the body,” officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said.

The deputy attempted to get to the body and haze the bear, but was unsuccessful. The deputy then reportedly got his rifle and tried hazing the bear again, but it didn’t work.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said the bear was “defensive of the victim’s body” and began moving towards the deputy.

“Due to the totality of the circumstances and proximity in the woods, the deputy shot and killed the bear to ensure his safety and that of other first responders,” the agency said.

WVLT has reached out to the Tennessee Highway Patrol for the preliminary report but has not yet heard back.

“The Dragon” or “Tail of the Dragon” is a section of U.S. Route 129, that is popular among motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts for its scenic views and hundreds of curves. It boasts about 318 curves in the span of 11 miles.

The “Dragon” begins at Deals Gap at the Tennessee-North Carolina border and winds its way north through part of the Cherokee National Forest to Tabcat Creek, near Tallahassee, Tennessee.

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