A black bear was hit and killed while trying to eat pancakes on the side of a road, an animal rescue group said.
Warning: This story contains pictures of a dead animal
Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR), based just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, said the bear was struck by a vehicle near the city of Townsend.
On Wednesday, the rescue group said it was “able to identify that this bear was male and further, what had enticed him to get so close to a dangerous, busy road in the first place – human food”.
They said on social media: “Not even a foot away from the deceased bear lay a platter of discarded pancakes.
“With fall hyperphagia in full swing, the male bear probably saw the pancakes as an easy, high-calorie meal.
“Unfortunately, this meal was the last meal he would ever have.”
Pic: Appalachian Bear Rescue / Facebook
In the post, ABR called for drivers and hikers to secure and dispose of litter safely when in areas with black bears.
“Securing your food, garbage, and recycling also means not littering,” they said.
“Discarding your unwanted food and trash in wild places is dangerous for not only bears but all other wildlife as well.”
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The US National Park Service said on its website that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park “is one of the largest protected areas… where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings”.
They added there are around 1,900 bears in the park.
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Visitors are warned not to feed the bears human food or leave it behind as it could change the animals’ behaviour, pose a risk to public safety, and leave bears vulnerable to cars and poachers.
The National Park Service added fines up to $5,000 (£3,850) and six-month jail sentences have been issued to those who litter, feed the bears, or store food improperly.