Part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina was closed after reports that visitors have attempted to feed and hold a young bear.
The National Park Service (NPS) issued a statement on Monday that an eight-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between milepost 367.6 located near the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road would be closed.
NPS said the decision came after multiple reports of “visitors feeding and attempting to hold a young bear” while at the Lane Pinnacle Overlook.
“We are closing this section of the road temporarily for the safety of both the bear and park visitors,” Superintendent Tracy Swartout said in the statement.
The NPS added visitors can still access the Craggy Gardens recreational area by using NC80 from the North, though the visitors center located at milepost 364.5 would be closed.
In a Facebook post from the Blue Ridge Parkway, a photo was posted showing a group of people standing close to a young black bear while taking photos.
Another instance of a close encounter with a young bear at the Lake Pinnacle Overlook was documented by motorcyclist Jeff Guffey. Guffey told ABC11 how a young black bear had approached his motorcycle and he kept his distance.
“I kept my distance,” Guffey told the outlet. “I made some noise to spook it away and it ended up returning to the motorcycle. It even took a few bites out of my seats.”
Fall signifies an important time for bears, especially between September and November, when they can forage for food for up to 20 hours a day as they prepare for hibernation and winter.
The NPS staff advises visitors to keep food stored out of sight and warns against feeding the bears. Eating human food can lead bears to “lose their preference for natural food sources” along with the “fear of humans.”
