Unwanted Visitor

Smilin · 06-04-2009, 02:51 PM

Unwanted visitor: Spooked bear crashes through home’s door in W. Knoxville

Quote:

By J.J. Stambaugh

The first reports that a bear had broken into a home about two blocks north of Sutherland Avenue on Forestview Road came into the E-911 Center about 10:20 p.m.

KPD officers walked the neighborhood — which contains several thickly forested lots — carrying flashlights and shotguns. They told residents to stay inside and make sure their pets were kept indoors.

Tom and Becky Mash said they were walking their dog north on Renford Drive when they encountered the bear as they rounded a curve on top of a hill where Renford intersects with Forestview.

They said they believe their dog scared the bear so badly that it panicked and blundered into a woman’s home through a front glass door.

“As we topped the hill, I saw the bear rise up and all of a sudden the dog started barking. ... That bear goes through the glass door of this woman’s house,” said Tom Mash. “That lady started screaming bloody murder. Wouldn’t you?”

The bear apparently chased the woman around her living room before opting to flee back out the door, Mash said.

The woman wasn’t physically hurt but was clearly terrified, he said.

The Mashes said the bear had been sighted in the neighborhood earlier in the day.

KPD officers declined to comment on the situation other than to confirm that a black bear was in the area. They also declined to point out the house the bear allegedly entered.

Dingfod · 06-04-2009, 03:18 PM

A turkey can be just about as bad.

MonCapitan2002 · 06-04-2009, 04:09 PM

I am so glad I live in a heavily populated urban area.

Dingfod · 06-04-2009, 05:51 PM

Where home invasion robberies are your worst fear.

erimir · 06-04-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smilin

The bear apparently chased the woman around her living room before opting to flee back out the door, Mash said.

The woman wasn’t physically hurt but was clearly terrified, he said.

1. Bears are terrorists!

2. I expect to see this on the Threatdown tonight or next week!

SharonDee · 06-04-2009, 06:40 PM

Based on the thread title, I thought Smilin had gotten his period.

Ymir's blood · 06-04-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

They told residents to stay inside and make sure their pets were kept indoors.

But that's where the bear was! :freakout:

Anastasia Beaverhausen · 06-05-2009, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonCapitan2002

I am so glad I live in a heavily populated urban area.

That's near my old high school. Which is IN the city (it's a poorer neighborhood), not remotely near the outskirts. :/

MonCapitan2002 · 06-05-2009, 05:19 AM

How did a bear get so far into the city undetected. Is there any particularly vast parkland nearby?

Anastasia Beaverhausen · 06-05-2009, 06:14 AM

Not really. We're about 35 minutes (car ride, you understand) from Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There's a high school, a National Guard Armory, a few businesses, and a lot of small houses. Some woods, but I don't expect a bear to live in there.

MonCapitan2002 · 06-05-2009, 06:31 AM

Whoa. Well then the obvious answer is that the bear is some kind of ninja, then.

JoeP · 06-05-2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynical-Chick

There's a high school, a National Guard Armory, a few businesses, and a lot of small houses. Some woods, but I don't expect a bear to live in there.

Nor did the bear, obviously.

Anastasia Beaverhausen · 06-05-2009, 07:45 AM

BrotherMan · 06-05-2009, 02:58 PM

Major Kira would always be welcome in my house.

Dingfod · 06-05-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynical-Chick

Not really. We're about 35 minutes (car ride, you understand) from Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There's a high school, a National Guard Armory, a few businesses, and a lot of small houses. Some woods, but I don't expect a bear to live in there.

There are bears in eastern Oklahoma, I'm pretty sure there are bears within 35 miles of Great Smokey Mountain National Park.