Woman faces jail time after feeding a bear in Tennessee

A woman from Virginia could face up to six months in jail after she was accused of intentionally feeding a black bear in Tennessee, Wildlife Officers say.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) said on Monday that Kristin Hailee Farris, 21, of Danville fed a bear what appeared to be watermelon, chocolate, and other food in Gatlinburg.

The 21-year-old was served a class B misdemeanor which carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, according to the agency.

A recording of the alleged incident went viral on TikTok where it was viewed over 500,000 times. TikTok has since put a disclaimer on the clip warning that the “action in this video could result in serious injury.”