Tennessee prohibits bear wrestling through wildlife laws classifying bears as Class I dangerous animals, restricting possession to zoos, circuses, or propagators—excluding wrestling shows. Violations fall under animal cruelty and public safety statutes, with penalties including fines and potential jail.​
Key Prohibitions
- Importing skunks across state lines is banned except for zoos or rehab, enacted in 1974 for wildlife protection.​
- Hunting from motor vehicles or aircraft is a Class C misdemeanor.​
- Feeding bears carries a $50+ fine as a Class C misdemeanor, lacking stronger statewide enforcement.​
Enforcement Reality
These rules stem from historical traveling shows but are rarely invoked today, serving more as trivia than active prosecutions. Modern focus lies on TWRA regulations for invasive species and roadkill possession, like requiring tags for accidentally hit bears.​
SOURCES
[1](https://www.thesmokies.com/bizarre-tennessee-laws/)
[2](https://www.yahoo.com/news/law-legend-tennessee-laws-may-140000911.html)
[3](https://iere.org/what-state-is-it-illegal-to-wrestle-a-bear/)
[4](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gatlinburg/comments/1pd8dbu/update_1_collective_action_on_prohibiting_black/)
[5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjcc7ybfFNI)
