Eight-mile stretch of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway is shut down after motorists flock to HUG and feed lone black bear cub

A bear cub caused chaos on North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway after curious motorists stopped to feed and hug the animal. 

Blue Ridge Parkway officials have since decided to close an eight-mile section of the road on Monday 'until further notice'. 

Officials said that the Ashville area parkway will be closed between milepost 367.6 near the Craggy Picnic Area to milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road in an attempt to protect the cub and park visitors.

Officials didn't explain further, but wild animals like bears have previously been euthanized in other areas if they become too familiar with people. 

'When people intentionally attract bears with trash and food it can lead to very dangerous situations,' Superintendent Tracy Swartout said in a news release.

The National Park Service revealed that officials received 'multiple documented reports' in recent weeks of visitors trying to feed and hold the baby bear at Lane Pinnacle Overlook. 

The friendly baby black bear (pictured) has been spotted for weeks near the Blue Ridge Parkway as humans have fed and tried to hold the cub 

The curious cub checked out the people (pictured) who got up close to take pictures of it and give the bear food

The black bear graciously came up to humans on the other side of the wooden barrier

The bear had a black body and a brown muzzle which is the common look for black bears

Some even went as far as to try to hug the young cub, but no photos of those embraces have been shared.

The black bear was seen walking along the wooden barrier between the road and the colorful foliage as stunned visitors got close to the animal.

The cub eventually got down from the ledge and made its way onto the road and invited itself onto a man's red Harley motorcycle. 

A Facebook post from Ashville Untapped revealed that the bear took 'a few bites out' of the motorcycle's seat. 

It is unclear exactly what people were feeding the friendly bear, but black bears are known to be omnivores that enjoy a mix of both vegetation and meat.

Officials decided to close the road to try and 'give the bear a chance to lose interest' in the area and in the visitors before anyone got harmed, including the cub.

According to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the black bear is the only species found in the state and anywhere in the eastern US. 

Though it's known to be all black, sometimes the animal can vary in colors. Typical black bears have a brown muzzle, which covers the nose and mouth area. 

The National Park Service revealed that officials received 'multiple documented reports' in recent weeks of visitors trying to feed and hold the baby bear at Lane Pinnacle Overlook

North Carolina and most of the eastern US is home to black bears. In the fall bears are known to forge for massive amounts of food as they prepare for winter hibernation

The Ashville area parkway will be closed between milepost 367.6 near the Craggy Picnic Area to milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road in an attempt to protect the cub and park visitors

Officials opted to close the portion of the road in an attempt to prevent the cub and onlookers from crowding the area and risking safety

In other instances, the bear can also have a white patch on its chest, known as a 'chest blaze'. 

Fall is the time of year where bears start to forge for food and put on weight in preparation for winter hibernation.

In the fall they are known to search for food for up to 20 hours and eat 20,000 calories per day. 

They typically try to find food naturally but are more than willing to take human food if presented to them. 

It is recommended to avoid approaching a bear as 'your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close,' National Park Service said.

Park staff made sure to remind park visitors and anyone neighboring the area to try and keep food out of sight. 

The National Park Service also recommended that in the case that someone encounters a bear, they should refer to their bear safety tips, call the number, or stop by the closest Visitor Center to report the spotting. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the 'most-visited of the National Park Service's 425 sites with an astounding amount of 15.71million visitors just last year

A Facebook post from Ashville Untapped revealed that the bear took 'a few bites out' of the motorcycle's seat as it adventured

It is unclear when the eight mile strip of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be back open as officials hopes this stops the bear and humans from interacting with each other

Just weeks ago, another black bear snuck into a house in Connecticut and stole a lasagna from the freezer before it ran away. 

The homeowner, Helena Houlis shared the Ring camera footage of the intruder raiding her refrigerator as the bear used the freezer door to boost its way out of the window. 

Like North Carolina, Connecticut has also warned residents and visitors to be mindful of bear activity this fall. 

According to CNN, Blue Ridge Parkway is the 'most-visited of the National Park Service's 425 sites with an astounding amount of 15.71million visitors just last year. 

It is unclear when the eight-mile strip of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be back open but the popular hiking area at the Craggy Gardens recreational area is still accessible via NC80.