The discovery of bones thought to be a human hand in Fentress County turned out to be a bear paw.
Deputies responded to the call on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) and determined the remains belonged to a young bear.
The Sheriff’s Office said bear paws can appear very similar to human hands at first glance. In this case, the presence of large black hair and the overall bone structure confirmed the remains were from a bear paw.
The Fentress County Sheriff’s Office is very thankful to the individuals who reported their concerns and always prefers community members err on the side of caution and call when something appears suspicious.