Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bh3a2rne9moygdx/VRP48796.mp4?dl=0
A curious black bear greeted a couple at a parking lot in Tennessee.
The animal was searching for food along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg on July 12 when he spotted the pair resting inside their car.
As the animal sniffed the ground and plants for snacks, it approached the vehicle where the thrilled couple have been watching.
The bear then stood on its hind legs to have a better look at the tourists inside the car before returning to the forest to resume its foraging.
Tourist Brittany Hogate said: ‘I was with my husband when the bear emerged from the forest. We were resting after a long drive at a nature trail.
‘It was a nice experience to see the near that close. We were just relieved that the animal appeared while we were in our vehicle for safety.’
After the bear disappeared behind trees, the couple stayed for a few more minutes in the parking lot before resuming their trip.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in the wild as well as natural surroundings.
The bears inhabit all elevations of the park with an estimated population of 1,500 bears living in the park according to biologists.