Watch: Crazy Moment Bear Tries to Open Cabin Door as Family Watches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2b3_czUCI

Watch: Crazy Moment Bear Tries to Open Cabin Door as Family Watches

Published: August 18, 2026

A family vacationing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, got an unexpected surprise when a black bear wandered up to their cabin rental and appeared to try to open the door.

The startling encounter was captured on video as the family watched the bear from inside the cabin.

Bear Attempts to Open Cabin Door

In the footage, the curious black bear approaches the cabin and begins investigating the entrance. The animal appears to reach toward the door, creating a tense—and unusual—moment for the family watching from inside.

While bears are a familiar sight in the Great Smoky Mountains region, seeing one attempt to interact with a cabin door can be an unsettling experience for visitors.

A Close Encounter With Wildlife

Gatlinburg and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains area are home to a large population of black bears, and sightings are relatively common.

Wildlife officials routinely remind visitors to keep a safe distance from bears and never approach, feed or intentionally interact with them. Bears can be unpredictable, particularly when they become accustomed to finding food around people.

For this family, the encounter provided an unforgettable vacation memory—and a video that captured just how curious a bear can be.