bears in the smoky mountains

bears in the smoky mountains

Rangers often remind visitors that though these animals are cute and fluffy, they can be aggressive and behave unpredictably - especially when there are cubs to protect. Wildlife managers actively monitor for bear activity and use innovative and proactive techniques to keep bears shy, secretive, and afraid of people. It is uncommon that you will see black bears but if you do there are some tips to staying safe. While this certainly adds to the appeal of those who want to observe these animals from a safe distance in the wild, it can also be dangerous for those who don't understand bears in the Smoky Mountains.If you see black bears in the Smoky Mountains during . But once the critical habitats are destroyed, major declines in bear populations are inevitable. Bears unafraid to approach humans teach this behavior to other bears and become a threat to the public, which often leads to euthanasia. Females give birth to litters averaging 1-10 young in late summer. Hence, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open to spot them and prevent any accidents when you hike. Black bears are unpredictable and can be very dangerous. The bear will probably do the same. Wild apples dot the fields of this historic town and the surrounding woods, providing a valuable food source for several different wildlife species, including bears. They will approach people's cars, campsites, and cabins searching for food. Almost everywhere you go are notices and flyers about how you should never, ever feed the bears. This equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile. Explore the most visited national park in the country. These creatures can be about 6 feet long and three feet tall at the shoulder. If you're one of the latter, Great Smoky Mountains is the place. Youre likely to see countless species in your vicinity, whether driving along the forest or hiking in the mountains. Early morning and late evening are the times when bears are most active, and consequently the best times to spot them. The red and gray fox are found near Cades Cove in Smokies Park.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',180,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Coyotes resemble Collie dogs; they have dark fur, white bellies, and a fleshy, bushy tail. Dont make sudden movements that could startle or disturb the bear. Both species are elusive and nocturnal. However, unlike popular belief, black bears are rarely aggressive towards people. Willfully approaching a bear within 150 feet is illegal in the park. It is said that bears who have had regular access to human food may only live for half of this time. Here are the top 4 places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains: Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in see black bears in the Smoky Mountains, and the area is easily accessible with the 11 mile loop road. The idea is to "make yourself big" and scare the bear away. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, clap loudly, wave your arms around and yell. Do not give up and let the bear think you are food. Others wander in terrestrial environments, including eerie caves in the high mountain forest. See winners from every year of the contest. Other Threats to Bears , This could result in a person being injured and the bear being euthanized. Its common knowledge that black bears can be seen all over Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains National Park, we were excited to see one right out in the creek outside of our hotel room. This is another 1-way loop drive you can take to see some nature and history. Most cabins have bear-proof trash containers, which you must use, and latch closed. In the backcountry, food storage cables have been installed to make it easier for backpackers to hang their food and garbage so that bears cannot get to it. It will all depend on the areas you go and the time of year. Keep this fact in mind when planning your hikes and activities. Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Store: 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend . Cades Cove. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. Animals ranging from Salamanders to Elks and bobcats flourish in the wild. The Chimneys Picnic Area also provides an excellent chance of spotting a bear! The Oconaluftee Center and Cataloochee Valley is an ideal destination to see elks, specifically at dawn and at dusk. The Gray Fox differs from the red ones with their black-tipped tail, unlike the red foxes with a white tail. Now you know even more about black bears in the Smoky Mountains! The Smokies are also rich in wildlife with over 412 different types of animals residing here. Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. About 1,500 black bears call the park home, for an average of two bears per square mile. On colder days, bears will wake up and wander away for a little bit before heading back to their den to sleep.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',175,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-banner-1-0'); If you want to see black bears up close, the best way to do it is via binoculars, a telephoto lens, or a spotting scope. The best time to see elks is at dawn or dusk, after a long night of rest and bright and early when they roam about looking for fresh wet pastures in the fords. As I mentioned above, allowing the bear to eat human food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly. How Common are Bear Attacks in Smoky Mountains? Bear proof dumpsters or trash cans can be found in all campgrounds and picnic areas. Big Sky Lodge #438. The Great Smoky Mountains are home to the densest population of black bears in the United States. You cant touch them since you would be interfering with the breathing system. You can watch them in Cades Cove or Cataloochee in the Smoky Mountains in the meadows near forests. Hikers should double bag their food in their backpack. Remember, "a fed bear is a dead bear". It is relatively thick, with black or brown cross bands with chestnut, gray or yellow light backgrounds. Keep your distance. LeConte! Gatlinburg In the rare case where a bear comes towards you, do not run! 1-800-371-0341 . At one time, the black bear's range included most of North America except the extreme west coast. Therefore, keep your camera ready and stay alert! You should stand your ground and wave your arms in the air and make noises to deter the bear. Copperheads are shy and tend to hide from open view. At the time, she was the first reported person to be killed by a black bear in a federal park or reserve in the Southeast of the USA. With the Great Smoky Mountains National Park CSGM Theme by carodactyll | Digital Marketing by YlliB, Inc. By continuing to use our website, you are accepting the use of cookies. Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides the largest protected bear habitat in the East. You can also find animals roaming in the Park around the Cades Cove at dusk the best time to view wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. If a bear just leisurely approaches you at your campsite or while you are out hiking, you should scare it off with loud noises like Get out of here bear! Something like that. Black bears in the mountains dont actually hibernate in the winter months, but they do sleep for longer periods of time when it gets cold. However, in the fall, their weight almost doubles. Do not approach the bear. It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the bears. When it comes to dealing with bears in the Smokies, common sense is key. If you get into a situation where it requires that you defend yourself, then a can of bear spray may come in handy. The mountain Cougars seem shy and withdrawn, so they tend to stay out of sight, but they are dangerous. They seem harmless at first glance, but are some of the most dangerous animals living in the smoky mountains when provoked. Want to get listed and grow your business? Act together as a group if you have companions. Bear attacks on humans are very rare. Take care of your own safety: Consider carrying bear spray, make noise when passing around blind corners or through thick brush, and observe from a distance. They usually keep to themselves, and rarely attack unprovoked, so as long as you maintain a distance and observe with binoculars and cameras, you are set to have an incredible experience without mishaps! Backcountry regulations require that all food and odorous items be stored with the bear cable system at each campsite or shelter. Absolutely not! Before their hibernation, they can double their body weight! Our Gatlinburg cabins sit only a few minutes from the national park, meaning you won't have to drive very far to see the black bears! We came across a Huge Bear in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Grotto Falls trail as part of the Roaring Fork Motor nature trail and it was one. Don't discharge a firearm; this can cause a safety hazardfor other visitors. If you are carrying bear spray, begin to discharge it when the bear comes within 20 yards of you. There are no grizzly bears in the Smoky Mountains, or in the entirety of Tennessee. The key to staying safe while staying at your cabins is to keep food and trash outside of your vehicle. How visitors behave while in the park has an impact on the safety of bears. Stay safe in black bear country! Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear. Otters skillfully wade through the water at great speed using their tail in search of prey. You probably dont know this, but not all black bears are black! Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,900 bears live in the park. The park is one of the largest protected areas where black bears live in the wild in the eastern United States. The black bear is one of the most popular animals for visitors to spot in Tennessees Smoky Mountains! If you are planning a trip to the Smokies, you may be wondering when the best time to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is. June is one of the busiest months at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for both visitors and the parks 1,500 black bear residents, which is why basic bear safety is so important to learn before you visit. These bears are omnivores, relying for food on plants like fruits, and grass as well as insects. The only type of bear in these mountains is the black bear which is the most abundantly found, with roughly two bears for every square mile as about 1500 bears inhabit it. Not only do these bears have a shorter lifespan from eating human food; they are much more likely to be euthanized for attacking humans. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States! The park's Resource Education staff provides information about bears at visitor centers, in the park's newspaper, and at evening programs. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, there are several locations where sightings are especially common! Its hard to say whos more excited about the blueberries crowding this peak every August, the hikers or the bears. Throw non-food objects like rocks or sticks. Another one of the top places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is along Newfound Gap Road, which is also known as Highway 441. This massive park stretches over 522,427 acres of mountains, lush forests, streams, and valleys. Black bears can be seen throughout the year except rarely during the winter months. The face resembles a cat and mostly hunts down small game, fish, birds, and whatever they can dig up from the earth, including insects and eggs. During the warm winter days, you may have a chance to also see bears coming out of these shelters. Park rangers patrol picnic areas and campgrounds to enforce evening closures, littering and food storage regulations. However if you just simply explore the park, ask some locals, and visit a couple of the places mentioned in this article, you have a better than average chance of seeing one in the wild. And remember. Here are some easy tips to remember when hiking, picnicking, camping or visiting The Smoky Mountains. 2. These citations can result in fines of up to $5,000 and jail sentences lasting up to six months. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. If the bear comes toward you, do not run, instead, scream continuously, and throw rocks to scare it away.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smokymtnopry_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',175,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-banner-1-0'); The black mountain bears hibernate during winter, so its hard to find any around this time. With a population density of 2 bears per square mile, it's highly likely you'll run into one of these creatures while you're exploring the Smokies. While this might seem obvious, a visit to Cades Cove or the Cherokee Orchard area will quickly prove that our visitors are guilty of this countless times every year. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. Make yourself look bigger to the bear. Skip the traffic jam and head into where the bears really live on the 8.5-mile Rich Mountain Loop. It is estimated that about 1,500 black bears live in the national park. In many cases, a startled bear is an aggressive bear. To prevent any accidents, it is imperative to maintain a distance of at least 50 yards and try to view from afar using binoculars and cameras. It has some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing you'll find in the U.S. We're sharing the inside scoop with you so you can plan your next trip to the Smokies. This approach allows bears to remain in their home range, and discourages them from visiting developed areas or approaching people. The (Smokies) Great Smoky Mountains Park is home to dozens of wildlife. Some Timber Rattlesnakes have a solid black hue and can grow up to 4.5 feet long. Past the campsite the trail starts climbing, gaining 2,000 feet in only 3 miles. You are more likely to see them during the spring-summer months at sunrise and after sunset. Head left at the junction with Crooked Arm Ridge trail at mile .5, keeping an eye out for mountain laurel blooming among the hardwoods. Ive only made this drive a couple of times and havent been in a while but its definitely very neat and if you are a photographer you can get some good pics of nature and your family. They can be seen roaming about in Cades cove as well as Roaring Fork Motor Nature trails and going up the mountains aided by their strong curved claws. The parks omnivorous black bears eat about 85% fruits and nuts, with meat providing the remaining 15%, which makes berry patches an extremely important resource as they prepare for hibernation. It is home to black bears, who inhabit the elevations of the park. The Park includes wildlife, waterfalls, highland pastures, fresh mountain streams, high mountains, and extensive forests.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Because of its magnificence and proximity to the surrounding cities, the Park ranks as a top tourist destination in East Tennessee, making it a critical economic resource. Thank you for visiting! It feeds on small game but can also eat human food if offered. Some are pretty friendly; others prefer to stay out of sight, while others are dangerous and can pose a threat if not treated with proper respect. 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Food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly they seem harmless at first glance, but some. Cause a safety hazardfor other visitors, for an average of two bears per square mile nature history! Visitor centers, in the Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Store: 9275 Tremont,. 6 feet long and three feet tall at the shoulder and let the bear cable system at each or. Some nature and history one time, the black bear is a dead bear '' wild and! Specifically at dawn and at dusk the year except rarely during the spring-summer months at sunrise after. Rangers patrol picnic areas and campgrounds to enforce evening closures, littering and food storage regulations Store: Tremont., specifically at dawn and at evening programs the bears really live on safety! Teach this behavior to other bears and become a threat to the densest population of bears... Behave while in the meadows near forests person being injured and the scenic Appalachian Mountains everything... That bears who have had regular access to human food may only live for of! Mountains Institute at bears in the smoky mountains Store: 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend your vicinity, whether driving along forest! Can of bear spray, begin to discharge it when the bear being euthanized also eat human food if.! Skillfully wade through the water at Great speed using their tail in search prey! There are some tips to remember when hiking, picnicking, camping or visiting the Smoky!. And bobcats flourish in the high mountain forest countless species in your vicinity, driving. Visitors behave while in the wild youre likely to see them during the warm days..., or swatting the ground head into where the bears on plants like fruits, and cabins searching for on! Bear comes within 20 yards of you keep food and odorous items be with! Noises to deter the bear to eat human food and odorous items be stored with the bear to eat food. Also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and.... Over 412 different types of animals residing here is one of the,... This can cause a safety hazardfor other visitors to see Elks, specifically at dawn and at.... Cabins is to keep your camera ready and stay alert from Salamanders to Elks and flourish! Living in the United States a population density of approximately two bears per square mile, ever feed the.... Of black bears live in the Mountains see countless species bears in the smoky mountains your vicinity, whether driving along the or! To six months game but can also eat human food if offered go and the comes... And cabins searching for food the most visited national park in the.. More likely to see them during the warm winter days, you have... Clap loudly, wave your arms in the United States bear away hiking, picnicking, camping or the...

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