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Resident reports repeated bear sightings; asks city to coordinate with wildlife officials
Summary
Mary McPeek told the commission a bear has been frequenting her neighborhood for about five months, described repeated trash raids and a daytime siting in a neighbor's yard, and asked the city to coordinate with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and animal control to relocate the bear.
Mary McPeek spoke during public comment to report repeated sightings of a bear in her neighborhood near Buffalo Mountain and asked city officials to follow up with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency about relocation or public-safety steps.
McPeek, a former veterinarian, described the bear as "not afraid of people," said it has been in the area for approximately five months and reported that it has been raiding trash cans and sat in a neighbor's yard for an extended time. She said she had already contacted TWRA twice and that a local official had provided educational guidance about limiting food sources, but she asked for city assistance in coordinating a response.
Vice Mayor Brock responded that staff would follow up with animal control and wildlife officials and attempt to coordinate relocation or other mitigations; McPeek provided contact information for follow-up.
