Bear Euthanized After Roaming Through Chattanooga Over The Weekend

A bear that roamed through downtown Chattanooga over the weekend was reportedly captured and euthanized, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency confirmed to WTVC.

Mime Barnes, a spokesperson for TWRA, confirmed the bear was tagged, meaning it had not been near humans before, WTVC's Abby Kirk reports.

"Due to the health and stress of the bear and more importantly, public safety, this bear was euthanized," Barnes said in a statement obtained by WTVC. "It’s not an easy job for officers and not their outcome of choice. They are trained in a decision making process and to put public safety first."

Several individuals who were in downtown Chattanooga at the time the bear was reported to be spotted told WTVC they were unaware of the report.

"Holy smokes! Where is he charging to?" Austin Bynum told WTVC after looking at a video of the bear walking toward downtown.

"I hope it is taken care of I guess that's all I can say," added Gracie Partain, who was on her way to work when the bear was reported to be on the streets.

Chattanooga Police confirmed the bear was spotted in the downtown area on Saturday at around 6:00 p.m. Mayor Andy Berke also confirmed the bear spotting over the weekend and added that it was not from the local zoo.

Several viewers told WTVC that the bear was specifically spotted near Martin Luther King Boulevard, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's campus.

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