Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff have seen a recent uptick in visitors feeding bears, with three separate incidents in the past week alone, the park announced Aug. 13.

After the park received reports of visitors intentionally feeding bears three different times in the last week, officials are reminding visitors that feeding wildlife is illegal and endangers the person, other visitors and bears. In one of the interactions, a visitor was seen feeding a mother bear and her two cubs, the park said in a news release. Law enforcement issued the visitor a citation.

Feeding wildlife in the park is a federal offence that can result in up to a $5,000 fine or imprisonment for up to six months, the park warned. Staff urges visitors not to feed or approach black bears. The Citizen Times aske

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