A strange act of vandalism that combined a bear’s head and skin with a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement is under investigation at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The National Park Service says the vandalism occurred sometimes on Sept. 18 or 19 and involved the Foothills Parkway West Entrance sign near Walland, Tennessee, according to a news release. The park straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.
It was discovered about 7:45 a.m. Saturday, when tourists “reported seeing a black bear skin with head and a cardboard sign attached to the entrance sign that read ‘from here to the lake black lives don’t matter,’” a release said.
A reward of up to $5,000 is offered for tips “leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible,” park officials said.
“We encourage anyone with information to reach out to us as we continue to investigate possible motives for this incident,” Chief Ranger Lisa Hendy said in a news release. “We take vandalism incidents seriously in the park, and this particular incident is particularly egregious. It is for this reason we are offering a reward for information.”
Tips can be offered at 888-653-0009 or via “Submit a tip” at www.nps.gov/isb, the park says. On Sept. 23, the National Park Service took the unusual step of issuing a second press release asking callers to restrict their comments on the tip line. “The tip portal is restricted to investigative tips ONLY and should not be used to offer general comments or opinions,” the release said.
The National Park Service did not offer an interpretation of what the vandalism might mean, including whether it may involve advocates for black bears rather than critics of the Black Lives Matter social justice movement.
“The investigation is ongoing and no further details will be released at this time,” the release said.
Park officials at the Great Smoky Mountains have recently faced criticism for euthanizing a black bear that was caught “actively scavenging on the remains” of a dead camper Sept. 11 at the Hazel Creek Trail. The cause of the man’s death has not been released. Advocates have called he bear’s death unnecessary, including some who posted “Bears Lives Matter!” on social media.
The Great Smoky Mountains is the “most visited” of the nation’s 419 national parks last year, with 12.5 million visitors, the National Park Service says.
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 6:25 PM.