Dollywood to educate visitors about black bears with new BearWise signs
By Kelly Doty
Click here for updates on this story
PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (WLOS) — Dollywood, the famed East Tennessee theme park, announced plans to educate visitors on how to safely coexist with one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most iconic residents: black bears.
Attendees will soon notice BearWise signs throughout the theme park, featuring information about black bear behavior and how to protect them, according to an April 28 news release.
The program is in partnership with BearWise Tennessee, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the city of Pigeon Forge.
“Dollywood taking this initiative to educate visitors from all over will have a lasting impact on not only guests, but the community and black bears, current and future,” Janelle Musser, assistant Black Bear Program coordinator for TWRA and Tennessee BearWise, said in a written statement.
Dollywood officials said the information shared on the BearWise signs will help visitors know what to do if they encounter a bear while visiting the area or Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The park has also implemented new policies and procedures to ensure bear attractants are secure, helping keep Tennessee’s bears wild, according to the news release.
“At Dollywood, we believe part of our role in this community is teaching people how to enjoy the Smokies safely,” Jerry King, Dollywood’s safety manager, said in a written statement. “Becoming BearWise isn’t just about rules — it’s about understanding bear behavior and making smart choices, like keeping food secured and giving bears plenty of space.”
The goal of the program is to quickly and succinctly share important information about area wildlife with a constant rotation of visitors to Pigeon Forge and the Smokies.
“Because of the millions of guests who visit our properties each year, we can share the BearWise message with an even broader audience. We hope that if everyone does their part, we can help protect these incredible animals and keep the mountains a place we all can enjoy for years to come,” King said.
BearWise is a national education program dedicated to safe coexistence between people and black bears. Learn more about the program and bear safety at bearwise.org.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.