bears in the smoky mountainsbears in the smoky mountains

It is home to black bears, who inhabit the elevations of the park. Click Here, Top 4 Places to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains. Photo: "Clingmans Dome (AKA Smoky Dome) - Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, USA" by jody.claborn is marked with CC PDM 1.0. Not only could bear's food source of acorns be affected, but some of the prime denning spots in old growth trees may be lost. The Smoky Mountain area is one of the few places in the United States where wild black bears can be found living in their natural habitat. You may think black bears only eat meat, but they are actually omnivores! Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. According to bear.org, black bears hibernate for up to 7.5 months a year. When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, be sure to use the provided bear-proof dumpsters and garbage cans. Cades Cove. The park has done many things to make it easier for you to protect bears. Increase the distance between you and the bear. 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. Males may weigh around 250 lbs in the summertime, but can double their weight in the fall when they are fattening up for winter. Call a ranger or visitor center if you spot someone else breaking the rules during their visit. Grizzly bears can only be found in a few states in the US, including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. 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. If you know you are going to be exploring the outdoors ahead of time, plan on bringing something appropriate to contain your trash. 4 Interesting Facts About Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains, Top 3 Safety Tips About Viewing the Smoky Mountain Wildlife, Top 3 Reasons Why You Can See Salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park During the Winter, 3 Reasons Why Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains Dont Truly Hibernate, Top 6 Historical Places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, How to See Your Favorite Smoky Mountain Wildlife in the National Park, Top 10 Things to Know About the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Before You Go. I would say any time in May through September will be your best bet, I saw a young male recently in July. Black bears in the Smokies are black in color, but in other parts of the country they may be brown or cinnamon. Insects and animal carrion provide valuable sources of protein for bears. Its easy to spot one in the Smokies due to their colorful red hue and fluffy tail. 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. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. 250 pounds. 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. But once the critical habitats are destroyed, major declines in bear populations are inevitable. You should stand your ground and wave your arms in the air and make noises to deter the bear. There are 412 types of animals present in these mountains, But are there bears in the smoky mountains? Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Giant bears weigh up to 600pounds and are not easy to find, while the Females weigh around 100 pounds, and the males weigh at approx. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Bear attacks on humans are very rare. 107 Park Headquarters Road 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. They live in social units mostly a mother and her young ones until they mature. Be sure to give animal plenty of room and continue its activities as if you werent there. Often, they must be euthanized. If you get into a situation where it requires that you defend yourself, then a can of bear spray may come in handy. If you spot one while hiking in the Park, stay away or back away slowly and calmly to avoid a wild chase. Warning: Bears are wild animals that are dangerous and unpredictable. [NPS]. They can live at any elevation in the park, so you could see them near cabins in the woods or as you hike to the summit of Mt. Their diet mostly consists of plants like berries and nuts, but they do seek animals and insects as a source of protein. They also eat lizards, crayfish and fish. In the rare case where a bear comes towards you, do not run! This scenic 33 mile route travels through some of the highest elevations of the national park, so there are plenty of gorgeous mountain overlooks to enjoy too! Feeding bears or allowing them access to human food and garbage causes a number of problems: For these reasons, park rangers issue citations for littering, feeding bears, and for improper food storage. During the summer months, a typical adult male bear weighs approximately 250 pounds while adult females are generally smaller and weigh slightly over 100 pounds. The Great Smoky Mountains is the largest protected area in the eastern part of the country that has wild black bears. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. The key to staying safe while staying at your cabins is to keep food and trash outside of your vehicle. At mile 5.9, turn right on the Crooked Arm Ridge trail to head back to the parking lot. Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,900 bears live in the park. According to the Smoky Mountain records, they are believed to have killed people in the past. Bears remain a majority of all the mammals present here, most likely seen during the Spring-summer months. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. Keep your distance. Best Camping in The Great Smoky Mountains, Bears in Smoky Mountains: The Kind, Places to See & Tips, 10 Best Camping in The Great Smoky Mountains 2023, 7 Best Horseback Riding in Smoky Mountains (2023 Update), Will Ghost Town in the Sky Reopen? Male black bears can weigh about 250 pounds on average, while a female black bear weighs about 100 pounds. The Little River Road is an excellent place to see bears as the road runs parallel to the Little River for 18 miles, traveling between the Cades Cove park entrance in Townsend to the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. Females give birth in late winter and can sire up to six kittens, which they raise for 6-8 months at most. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, there are several locations where sightings are especially common! 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. They are deadly snakes, so do not approach or attempt to kill if you see one. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. We all know bears hibernate in the winter. (Answered with 5 Examples), these basic guidelines for bear encounters, List of Tennessee State Animals and Plants, Smoky Mountains Wildlife (12 Species With Pictures), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures), 4 Types of Water Snakes in Iowa (With Pictures). If you love to hike, you might even see black bears along the trails. At this number, this creates a population density of two bears per square mile. Stand your ground if persistently followed. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's . Thank you for visiting! Start from the Gregory Ridge Trailhead, passing backcountry site 12 at mile 2 (make a reservation to extend your trip from a day to a weekend). Educational signs about bears can be found on picnic tables throughout the park and bear safety videos are posted on this website. If a bear charges at you, they say not to run. It is estimated that around 1,500 bears live inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Garbage Kills Bears! Bear Safety: Rule #1 Keep your distance. Backcountry regulations require that all food and odorous items be stored with the bear cable system at each campsite or shelter. They cant be found anywhere near Tennessee or North Carolina where the Smoky Mountains are located. I was staying at a Lodge just about a mile off of the Gatlinburg strip last month and saw a young male black bear right outside our room in the creek. If you're one of the latter, Great Smoky Mountains is the place. Here are some tips on what to do if you encourage a black bear in the Smoky Mountains: If a black bear follows or approaches you, without vocalizing or paw swatting: Please dont worry if you do see a bear as attacks are very rare, and deaths are incredibly uncommon! So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. This insect defoliates oak trees, weakening them and leaving them susceptible to other insects and diseases which may kill the trees. The bear will probably do the same. Weight can range from 200 to 600 pounds. 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 . This approach allows bears to remain in their home range, and discourages them from visiting developed areas or approaching people. Stay safe in black bear country! At speeds of 30 mph, black bears can outrun, outclimb, and outswim humans. If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) Want to get listed and grow your business? These volunteers also assist in managing people during roadside bear jams. Bearpacker is Backpackers annual celebration of bear safety, science, and stories. The Oconaluftee Center and Cataloochee Valley is an ideal destination to see elks, specifically at dawn and at dusk. Having determined when they are probably laying hibernating and making themselves scarce you can assume that the best time to spot a black bear is going to be in the spring, summer or early fall. For more information please read our privacy policy. They strike to bite! Black bears will eat berries, nuts, and plants, as well as fish and insects. It's essential to keep your distance for your own safety, the safety of those around you, and the bear itself. Black bears are unpredictable and can be very dangerous. While seeing these creatures is never guaranteed, there are places where you are more likely to see them. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities, or wherever there is shelter. Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the park. How visitors behave while in the park has an impact on the safety of bears. You probably dont know this, but not all black bears are black! The black bear is one of the most popular animals for visitors to spot in Tennessees Smoky Mountains! " The black bear is the symbol of the Smokies ," says wildlife biologist Bill Stiver. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. WARNING: Willfully approaching a black bear within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the park. Allow 2-4 hours time for this excursion, maybe more if you plan on doing a bit of exploring or having a picnic perhaps. Do not give up and let the bear think you are food. 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. Sometimes you dont even have to enter the famous national park to see them, as bears frequently roam around Gatlinburg. Browse all Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg condos. So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. As I mentioned above, allowing the bear to eat human food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly. miles in size, this means bears have a population density of nearly 2 bears per square mile. Smoky Mountain Black Bears (American Black Bear) are most active during morning and early evening during Spring and Summer. Several cultures believe that bear gall bladders, paws, and claws have medicinal powers or consider them gourmet delicacies. Others wander in terrestrial environments, including eerie caves in the high mountain forest. Bears attacks are usually caused by food, as they can get very hungry and desperate for food. Learn what to do if you see a bear by watching this short video. Do not invite bears into your campsite by storing food in or around your tent. Other Threats to Bears The Great Smokies are referred to as the Salamander Capital due to their abundance in the Southern Mountains. With approximately 1,500 bears in the park, the population density is roughly two bears per square mile! This charming four-bedroom, five-bathroom cabin has plenty of space for . Bears should also be treated with caution and respect. Cades Cove Visitor Center: 686 Cades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882. Also Read: Best Time to Visit Smoky Mountains. Female black bears in the Smoky Mountains average around 100 pounds, while the males hover around 250 pounds. Always keep your car locked, black bears are nifty at gaining access when they want to.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smokymtnopry_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',180,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smokymtnopry_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',180,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-180{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The Smokies are also rich in wildlife with over 412 different types of animals residing here. You can learn more about hibernation here. Try to protect others as safely as you can. 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