PETA protested this Pigeon Forge Business. Why? 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants twin bears Daisy and River released to a sanctuary

I’ll say this for the people of the mountains: we’ve come a long way. Some may think it’s an overstatement. Others may think it’s not far enough. But my memory goes back to the days that businesses in the region used live bears as a tourism draw. But they didn’t invest much in their health and upkeep. 

Our first time visiting Cherokee, N.C., there was an enclosure so small and limiting, it’s pretty much the only memory I have left of the day.

Compared to those conditions, the twin bears who live in an enclosure behind Three Bears General Store live in relative opulence. But that’s looking through the lens of someone with a worldview shaped by life in the 70s and 80s. It’s looking at things through the lens of someone who grew going to zoos, SeaWorld and places where you could see and learn about animals.

In other words, the lens of a person who is rapidly approaching the designation of old.

Zoos and other animal containment

I’ll admit that I’m caught between generational thinking somewhat. I understand that animals who were meant to live in wide swaths of forest or ocean aren’t meant to be confined. But I also understand that zoos and the like are actively working to preserve animals whose habitats have been fading. Such as the Red Pandas at Zoo Knoxville. I understand that zoos around the world are doing better jobs of caring for animals’ mental health. And creating enclosures that do a better job of protecting them body and soul.

How much of that is my reluctance to admit some truths about places and experiences that were important to me as a child, experiences I’ve shared with my own kids? Hard to say. I don’t want to think of myself as part of a larger systemic problem. Well-maintained and designed zoos and animal exhibits can play an important role in understanding, in conservation.

But I also understand why PETA would take issue with places using live animals as something of a loss leader to sell ice cream and screen-printed T-shirts.

What is the Three Bears General Store?

It’s a stylized strip mall built to mimic an old-style downtown storefront. It has a legacy going back to 1979 when part of its attraction was the live bear exhibit. Today, the store sells a little bit of everything. Massive amount of souvenirs, some Trump merch and much more. Overall, it’s a glorious collection of junk, jewelry and what nots.There’s an ice cream shop and an arcade. And around back, a fairly decent sized animal enclosure in which the bears live.

A while back, the General Store greatly enhanced the enclosure with a lot of things that bears would like. This includes climbing toys, running waterfalls and more over the 5,000-square-foot habitat. Also, it should be noted that the bears were rescued from a “kill farm.” Or a facility where wild animals are kept and hunted for sport. The General Store management stresses that the bears have been in the store’s possession for 25 years. They maintain that the facility is kept in compliance with federal and state regulations. It is also inspected regularly.

I don’t have schematics. But I think the “new” enclosure is pretty comparable in size to the one at Zoo Knoxville. It might even be a little bigger. It should be noted, however, that the compound at Zoo Knoxville looks a lot more natural. I don’t know if that makes the bears feel better, but it makes me feel better about seeing the bears. It would be nice if the Three Bears compound had a little more natural feel. Currently, it’s a lot of rock-like designs on which the bears can climb and, hopefully, play. I have personally witnessed the bears at Zoo Knoxville playing in their enclosure, climbing and – at least seemingly – enjoying themselves.

Why is PETA protesting the Three Bears General Store?

It is important to note that the members of PETA – like any other organization – are not monolith. While they agree on many issues across the board in terms of animal care and safety, neither this protest nor I can speak for them all. However, the store drew national attention when actor Joaquin Phoenix released a public “letter” to the store’s owners. He encouraged them to release the animals to an accredited sanctuary where presumably, they’d enjoy a better quality of life.

In their statement on the General Store, PETA calls the bear’s enclosure a “virtually barren concrete pit,” a “deplorable roadside attraction” and a “roadside hellhole.”

“They have nothing to do but pace back and forth and beg tourists for food. Obesity, foot injuries and incompatibility are just a few of the issues bears have experienced while living solely in the concrete pit,” PETA said. “After multiple bears died in the pit, most likely as a result of the poor living conditions, the roadside hellhole purchased two young bears named River and Daisy from an exotic-animal dealer in Michigan. They’re deprived of the opportunity to feel soft earth beneath their feet, dig dens and otherwise live as bears should.”

In fairness to the Three Bears General Store, the timeline PETA is referring to isn’t clear in terms of the animals’ deaths.

Who is right?

Many things can be true, Obi-Wan Kenobi told us, from a certain point of view. I do understand where the PETA people are coming from. And I can’t quibble when they call the enclosure a virtually barren concrete pit. But – as I said earlier – it’s an improvement of what it was when many of the incidents to which PETA was referring happened.

I don’t – however- agree with its description of the General Store and the attraction as being a “roadside” attraction. Other than literally being near a road – which would qualify every attraction in the state as “roadside” – it is significantly nicer than what I would consider a traditional “roadside attraction.”

The bigger question goes beyond PETA’s Yellow Journalism style choice of language. And its relatively small protests in which the protestors were cited for having a 7-foot animatronic bear – voiced by Casey Affleck – and a sign for which they weren’t permitted. The bigger question is what should the Three Bears General Store do – if anything – about the situation?

I know the knee jerk reaction for many is to oppose any PETA suggestion. If Three Bears ran a GoFundMe campaign to get more bears, I imagine they’d raise a lot of money. But I do think the time of businesses using live animals as an advertising gimmick is passing. Or at least large animals that need space. I also believe the General Store’s business is strong enough that it no longer needs this publicity stunt.

Could the bears acclimate to a new sanctuary?

I don’t know if – at this stage in their lives – Daisy and River could or would acclimate to a sanctuary. However, black bears live up to about 30 years in captivity. So the question may be moot at some point in the relatively near future.

I think from their own perspectives both the PETA people and the store’s ownership believe they are doing right by the animals. Either by protesting for their release or by investing in their care and treatment. In a different world, a world where people worked together for creative solutions, maybe PETA and the store owners could have met and raised funds for a bigger, better enclosure. Perhaps one that even incorporates a little of the river running behind the store. But things like that don’t happen much in this world.

What is your opinion about the bears at the Three Bears General Store? Let us know in the comments!