A Bear Attempts to Open the Locked Bakery Door... The Unexpected Visitor at a Tennessee Bakery

Tried to Grab the Door Handle but Failed to Break In
Store's Witty Social Media Post Draws Attention

A bear was spotted trying to open the door of a bakery in Tennessee, USA, drawing attention online. With bear sightings becoming more frequent locally as spring arrives, wildlife authorities have urged both residents and tourists to exercise extra caution.

On May 9, Yonhap News TV, citing outlets such as 6 News, reported that a black bear was recently caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) in front of Olga’s Yodel Cinnamon Rolls, a cinnamon roll shop located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

In the footage, the bear stands on its hind legs in front of the shop entrance, grabs the door handle with its front paws, and appears to try to open the door. The bear repeatedly pulled at the handle, attempting to get inside, but the door remained shut. Eventually, the bear loitered in front of the locked door for a while before leaving. It was reported that, at the time, employees inside the bakery were preparing bread for sale the next day. The shop owner told local media that this particular bear is often seen in the neighborhood and likely came up to the front of the shop, attracted by the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

The store later posted the video on its official social media channels, writing, "If you're a bear, don't behave like this bear. Maintain proper bear etiquette and do not try to trespass into my store. If you see this bear on the street, please tell it to stop its foolish behavior," which brought a smile to many. Viewers who watched the video commented, "Even a bear can't resist the smell of cinnamon rolls," "It looks like it's learning how to open doors," and "It's a relief the door was locked."

Gatlinburg, where this incident took place, is a tourist destination near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an area where black bears are often spotted. According to the National Park Service, around 1,900 black bears are believed to inhabit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Recently, there have been a series of bear-related incidents within the park. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) explained that bear sightings become more frequent in spring and early summer as temperatures rise.

In particular, young bears just over a year old often become independent from their mothers during this season and travel to unfamiliar areas in search of food, water, and shelter. TWRA noted that while these young bears are sometimes mistaken for orphans, most are capable of living on their own. Authorities emphasized that people should never feed wild bears or approach them. Bears that become accustomed to human food, garbage, or pet food may start associating people with food, which can lead to more dangerous encounters.