According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, black bears have been monitoring a couple black bears near the mid-state and said they could be seeing more.
Last year, Sumner County residents spotted a small black bear believed to have come from Big South Fork Park.
The TWRA said historically, bears on this side of the state are seen on the Cumberland Plateau where they have recently been monitoring two.
However, they said it would be a while before we see them deep in the mid-state.
"It's going to take years for these animals actually to set up home in one of our counties.Right now it's more of a testing the waters they're in and out of the counties," said Barry Cross with the TWRA.
Cross said to never go up to the bear if you see one and to prevent them from coming into your yard, make sure all the food is put away and trash cans are closed.
