Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer Larry Thurston was called to the scene of an auto accident involving a black bear on Nov. 10 at around 11 p.m. by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department.

Upon arrival, Thurston found a large male bear had died from injuries sustained in a collision with an automobile that occurred along Highway 231 South, about 400 yards from the Shelbyville city limits. It is believed that this could be the same bear seen in the Bedford County area earlier this year.

TWRA officers estimate the bear weighed 450 to 500 pounds, though its exact weight is unknown.

From nose to tail, the bear was 78 inches long and its paws appeared to be about 7 or 8 inches wide, according to reports.

After the wrecked car was towed away, a tractor with a scoop was used to pick the bear up due to its thickness.

The deceased animal was then loaded into the bed of a TWRA game warden’s truck.

“November is the month when bears begin hibernation. However, males tend to den up later than females,” Regional Species Biologist Tabitha Lavacot said.

She added that the abundance of food, particularly the profusion of acorns in the Middle Tennessee area, might also delay hibernation.  

Currently, there is no known breeding population of bears in Middle Tennessee, but the public is encouraged to visit Bearwise.org to learn facts and tips on how to not attract a bear if one is in the area.