As families adjust to the new reality of self-quarantine and social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak, a new worldwide trend is emerging that is finding its way into neighborhoods across Chattanooga.
From Soddy-Daisy to St. Elmo and Signal Mountain to East Brainerd, locals are embracing the idea of neighborhood "bear hunts." Inspired by the 1989 children's book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," the idea is to place a stuffed bear in the window of one's home for children to spot as they walk around the neighborhood. The more homes that participate, the more fun the game becomes.
"It's similar to 'I spy,' something to search for while you're walking," said Jessica Pope, a resident of the Skyline Park neighborhood in Signal Mountain.
She found the idea on social media and posted it to a neighborhood Facebook group, and neighbors' posts of bear photos soon followed.
East Brainerd resident Taylor Lyons also came across the idea on social media and decided to share it on the Mountain Shadows neighborhood Facebook page.
"Within two hours, people all over the neighborhood were putting bears out," said Lyons.
She and her family find more and more bears on their walks every day, she said. On Wednesday they counted 50 in the neighborhood.
People are interpreting the idea in a variety of ways. In addition to being posed looking out windows, stuffed bears are popping up on rocking chairs and hammocks. Other types of stuffed animals are making appearances as well, such as in North Chattanooga, which has a "Zootopia" themed hunt. One Mountain Shadows neighbor even put a taxidermied bear rug on their porch.
In St. Elmo, where an owl, cow and frog are part of the troupe, the neighbors have coined it "The Great St. Elmo Bear and Critter Hunt."
"We're doing what we can to make it an entertaining thing for the kids, and we're trying to turn it into a learning experience as well," said Lyons.
Counting, teaching bear facts, and connecting the game with the book are among the learning opportunities that parents can sneak into their hunts, she said.
On Friday, April 6, Lyons is planning a neighborhood-wide bear hunt, when all the kids in the neighborhood are invited to dress like bears, host bear tea parties in their yards, and try to find and photograph as many bears as possible - all while keeping a safe social distance.
Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.