Black bear draws a crowd after getting stuck on a roof in downtown Gatlinburg

GATLINBURG, Tenn. – Move over Chainsaw Bear, it's time for Parkour Bear to take the spotlight.

Black bears are obviously no strangers to Gatlinburg, as the Great Smoky Mountains surrounding the city are their home. They can sometimes be caught roaming the outskirts at different times of the year, but occasionally some bears are exceptionally brave and attempt to head downtown in search of food.

In the early hours of Friday morning, some people noticed something strange on the buildings across from the Space Needle: A bear had somehow climbed onto the roofs of the Ripley's Motion Blaster attraction and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant around 2 a.m

People began sharing photos and videos of the parkour bear on social media as it wandered between the two buildings. Some said the bear seemed intimidated by the dinosaur on the Ripley attraction.

The bear had been up there for several hours and seemed to be having trouble finding a way down. As daylight came, a crowd formed across the street from the buildings as police and wildlife officials worked on a plan to take down the bear.

JUL shared these photos with us:

Eventually, state wildlife and national park service officials were able to calm the bear and use a bucket truck to safely remove it from Bubba Gump's roof. Matt Cameron, spokesman for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, said the 375-pound man was safely released back into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

While the sight of a bear prowling rooftops is amusing and a strange part of life in Gatlinburg, it is also an important reminder that we live in bear country and that it is always a good idea to protect your outdoor belongings while thinking about our bear friends, especially food and trash.

This story had a happy ending, but the same cannot be said for a bear that is becoming accustomed to people and easy neighborhood food options. Remember: a fed bear is a dead bear.

Since you're in bear country, there's a good chance you'll see black bears here even if you never go into the forest.

• Do not leave food, trash, or pet food outside when no one is around. It only takes a hungry bear a few seconds to steal it.
• Feeding bears or using food to entice bears to approach you is often illegal and always dangerous.
• Do not throw leftover food out of the car window or into the forest behind your holiday home.
• If a dumpster or dumpster is full, do not pile the trash outside; Take it with you when you go.
• Bird feeders = delicious bear snacks. When black bears are active, it is best to remove feeders.

• Stay in your vehicle; Even bears that seem comfortable around humans are still wild animals.
• Never approach bears or attract them to approach you.
• Enjoy bears from a safe distance. Maintain a distance of at least 50 yards or 10 car lengths.
• Do not block the road to bear watching. If permitted, stop and take photos from the safety of your vehicle.

• Stay alert, obey the speed limit and scan the sides of the road. If a bear crosses the road, look out for cubs before moving on.
• Be especially vigilant at dawn and dusk when bears are most active. Black bears are fast and difficult to spot.
• If you meet a bear, do not try to help it. Call 911 or report to authorities as soon as possible.

Wildlife collisions are not always covered by insurance.

Always keep your dog on a leash when outdoors. Allowing your dog to approach or attack a bear will put you and your pet in danger.

• lock vehicles; Don't leave the windows open even a crack. Remove anything that has an odor (food, drinks, trash, pet food, scented products).
• Keep exterior doors closed, even when you are there.
• Do not store food, drinks, trash or recycling on porches/patios/decks.

• If a bear passes near you, try to scare it away by making a lot of noise, yelling, or banging pots and pans together from a safe distance.
• If you see a bear near a dumpster or inside a building, do not approach or corner it. Give the bear an escape route.

Black bears are rarely aggressive and attacks are rare.

• Carry bear spray with you and know how to use it.
• If you see a bear before it notices you: Stand still, don't come any closer and enjoy the moment. Then move quietly in the opposite direction.
• If you encounter a bear that pays attention to you: don't run; Running can trigger a chase. Bears are fast and powerful animals and can outrun you at short distances. Slowly walk back in the opposite direction and wait for the bear to leave.
• When the bear attacksDon't play dead. The TWRA said you should do everything in your power to fight back by using your fists, sticks, rocks or anything nearby that could be used in your defense.

Visit BearWise.org for more bear protection tips.