This Tennessee black bear would walk 1,000 miles just to eat off the same picnic table.
Wildlife crews trapped the animal and relocated her 1,000 miles to an area of South Cherokee National Forest in Georgia.
Scientists labeled the animal Bear 609 and attached a geolocating device to it.
According to the report, wildlife biologists tracked Bear 609 as she proceeded to walk across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina and then into Tennessee—eventually returning to the campsite where it had been trapped.
Stiver said the bear’s journey is the longest he’s seen among relocated individuals—typically bears will walk upwards of 200 miles to return to familiar territory, he said.
Relocated bears returning to a favorite human source of food is, alas, not out of the ordinary.
Bear 609’s voyage, while impressive, is yet another reminder that hikers and campers should always be careful with food and trash when recreating in bear country. »
