"Human Interactions with Bears on Blue Ridge Parkway Pose Deadly Threat, Officials Warn"

A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina has been temporarily closed due to unsafe interactions between humans and bears. Reports of visitors feeding and attempting to hold a young black bear prompted parkway officials to close the stretch from milepost 367.6 to milepost 375.6. These interactions not only endanger human safety but also put the lives of bears at risk, as they become dependent on human food and wander into traffic or residential areas. The closure aims to protect both humans and bears, and officials will reassess the situation before deciding when to reopen the parkway.