23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Looking at the bear outside the cabin

We were staying in a cabin in the Smoky mountains and suddenly one of us saw a bear with two cubs digging the trash can outside. Because people know trash will attract wildlife in the park, there are lids to prevent the wildlife opening the trash can but somehow the bear knows how to open it and probably showing to her cubs(we believe that was a mommy bear).

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Tennessee, United States of America
Copyright: © Yihong Wu