bears in the smoky mountains
There are around 1500-1600 black bears living in the Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. Its hard to say whos more excited about the blueberries crowding this peak every August, the hikers or the bears. Past the campsite the trail starts climbing, gaining 2,000 feet in only 3 miles. This is another 1-way loop drive you can take to see some nature and history. Poaching: Unfortunately, the lure of high profits on international markets encourages the poaching of black bears. 4. Its a 5.4 mile round trip hike and is rated as moderately strenuous. It can really vary based on how available food is but generally black bears will go into hibernation sometime around September October and remain dormant through April. It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the black bears in the Smoky Mountains. This means that bear sightings in the park are not uncommon, especially during the early morning and late evening hours in . They also tend to sleep for lengthy periods, although not hibernating in the true sense, as they may come out of their dens on warmer days. , Above all, keep your distance from bears! Additionally, if a park ranger catches you, you can receive a fine of up $6,000 and a jail sentence of up to 6 months. Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Store: 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend . Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides the largest protected bear habitat in the East. There are 23 varieties of snakes in the Smokies, but only two of them are poisonous. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. In 2020, WKRN reported that at least 40 incidents occurred relating to bears attacking humans. Studies have shown that bears that lose their fear of people by obtaining human food and garbage never live as long as bears that feed on natural foods and are shy and afraid of people. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. You cant touch them since you would be interfering with the breathing system. The park's Resource Education staff provides information about bears at visitor centers, in the park's newspaper, and at evening programs. 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. Both species are elusive and nocturnal. So it is best to just do the right thing and go the other way. All you need to know about the most visited national park in the country. They are omnivores. A Guide to the Road to Nowhere, Smoky Mountains. As cute and cuddly as bears may appear, please remember they are wild animals and can be very dangerous when they feel threatened. Every time we looked off of our balcony there he was. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Do not approach the black bear and dont the bear approach you, Act natural if the bear is at a distance, eating or is walking past you, Dont get too close as this could encourage aggressive behavior, Dont run away from the bear, slowly back away and dont take your eyes off the bear. Animals around the Cades Cove include black bears, deer, coyotes and many more. If you spot one while hiking in the Park, stay away or back away slowly and calmly to avoid a wild chase. Looking for a fun way to enjoy your next family vacation, book a Smoky Mountain cabin rental with a game room for a truly unforgettable experience. Consider hanging items at least 10 feet up or investing in a bear-proof cooler or storage container. It is thought that around 1,500 bears live in the park, this is roughly two bears per square mile.Source: @carlosfineartphoto, It is not uncommon to see a black bear during a visit to the Smoky Mountains, especially during the early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_10',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_11',163,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-163{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 black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. The outdoors might seem like a good place to toss your apple core or crust from a sandwich, but doing so in or around the national park is one of the biggest reasons bears are attracted to areas populated by humans. So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. If you do a bit of exploring you are likely to see one. Here is how you should act when visiting the park. Home Blog Smoky Mountain Wildlife 6 Facts You Should Know About Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. This massive park stretches over 522,427 acres of mountains, lush forests, streams, and valleys. Do not approach within 50 yards or close enough to disturb the bear. Its a local saying. Do not approach the bear. While bears can be found throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is one of the best places to spot them due to its wide, open valley. 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. Keep them away from your area by hanging food and other fragranced items (like toothpaste, bug repellent or soap) in trees and out of reach. 2. The Little Cataloochee Baptist Church, 2 miles in, offers good views of the surrounding fields (now being reclaimed by the forest) and works well as a turnaround point. The loop road is not only a great place to spot bears in the Smoky Moutains, but its also famous for fantastic hiking trails, historical structures, rushing streams and majestic waterfalls! TN So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. Make your presence known. While seeing these creatures is never guaranteed, there are places where you are more likely to see them. Bears are like humans, they are omnivores. In many cases, a startled bear is an aggressive bear. Cades Cove is one of the best places for bear-spotting in the park, but most visitors only see it from the road, slogging through slow-moving lines of cars full of tourists. One of the most biodiverse places in the world; the Smoky Mountains have everything and more to offer. At one time, the black bear's range included most of North America except the extreme west coast. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Now you know even more about black bears in the Smoky Mountains! Home Blog Smoky Mountain Wildlife Top 4 Places to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains. Bobcats have spotted coats, short ears, and stubby tails. If you know you are going to be exploring the outdoors ahead of time, plan on bringing something appropriate to contain your trash. See winners from every year of the contest. It's essential to keep your distance for your own safety, the safety of those around you, and the bear itself. They mostly hunt fish, frogs, rabbits, and rodents. They dwell in the woods and meadows, where they browse on grass and other forest foliage. During this time, they double in weight to protect themselves from the cold. Cades Cove. If you find your cabin does not have this, arrange for an employee to bring you one. Some Timber Rattlesnakes have a solid black hue and can grow up to 4.5 feet long. This could result in a person being injured and the bear being euthanized. you are too close. " The black bear is the symbol of the Smokies ," says wildlife biologist Bill Stiver. Top 4 Places to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains Date: March 28, 2022 Many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park hope to catch at least one glimpse of the park's famous black bear! If you travel to Gatlinburg expecting to see black bears everywhere you go, you may be disappointed. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. The Gray Fox differs from the red ones with their black-tipped tail, unlike the red foxes with a white tail. Learn what to do if you see a bear by watching this short video. If a bear sees you, back away slowly. 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. Rocky Vs Smoky Mountains which is Better to Visit? Mating usually takes place in July. It is preferable not to hike alone. 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. Bear attacks on humans are very rare. Bears come out of hibernation and can eat anything during this time. So dont feed the bears. At some campsites, telephone poles were flown into remote backcountry areas because the trees around the campsites were too small to set up an effective cable system! Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. The best way to explore the area is to drive along the 11 mile loop . At speeds of 30 mph, black bears can outrun, outclimb, and outswim humans. Here is everything you need to know about black bears in the Smoky Mountain, what they look like and how to keep safe should you ever encounter one in the wild.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The most commonly found bear in the Smoky Mountains is the black bear. You probably dont know this, but not all black bears are black! 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. Poaching activities can be somewhat curtailed, and bear populations can eventually rebound from the losses. If you visit the park there is a very good chance you will encounter one. The Red Fox resembles a domestic dog in size, except for the white-tipped tail and black limbs, weighing up to 24 pounds. Many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park hope to catch at least one glimpse of the parks famous black bear! Cades Cove Visitor Center: 686 Cades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882. Look no further than Five Little Bears! Black bears will eat berries, nuts, and plants, as well as fish and insects. wildlife viewing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 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. One of the most important things to remember if you are lucky enough spot a bear is to keep a safe distance of at least 150 feet (50 yards) and do not approach. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. The park has done many things to make it easier for you to protect bears. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. At mile 5.9, turn right on the Crooked Arm Ridge trail to head back to the parking lot. These creatures can be about 6 feet long and three feet tall at the shoulder. They also strictly enforce regulations that prohibit approaching, harassing, disturbing or feeding bears. Can You Take Rocks from the Smoky Mountains? If you are carrying bear spray, begin to discharge it when the bear comes within 20 yards of you. Many bears have been spotted along Newfound Gap Road for years, especially in sections that are close to rivers and streams since bears like those areas for food. They both grow from 20-25 lbs. They are omnivores. One of the top places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is at Cades Cove, a broad valley surrounded by mountains that offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the national park! This is taken very seriously in the Smokies and I suggest you take it seriously as well. In addition, they are good tree climbers, can swim very well, and can run 30 miles per hour. River otters hunt the small amphibians that live in and along the rivers. Absolutely not! During summer months, some of the busiest picnic areas close at 8:00 PM so these areas can be thoroughly cleaned before dark and any food scraps or trash left by careless visitors can be removed. Head out to the Park in the early summer to witness mothers give birth to adorable calves and September-October for the annual mating season when bulls circle cows into herds. Black bears love Cades Cove because it has a suitable ecosystem and a variety of food sources. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 20 Best Backcountry Lakes to Hike This Summer, Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing Multiple Parks and Recreation Sites, Missing Appalachian Trail Hikers Body Found in Shenandoah, Park Officials Say. Not only do these bears have a shorter lifespan from eating human food; they are much more likely to be euthanized for attacking humans. Don't discharge a firearm; this can cause a safety hazardfor other visitors. How Many Days Should You Stay in Gatlinburg, TN? A Grand View Lodge #540. As a precaution, you can also carry bear pepper spray for your protection, but be sure not to mishandle it. Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems. Male black bears can weigh about 250 pounds on average, while a female black bear weighs about 100 pounds. Bears have fantastic color vision and an amazing sense of smell. It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the bears. They are omnivores and eat things like fish, nuts, berries, and plants. Hikers on their morning trips or afternoon hikes often report seeing black bears hanging out in the tree line. Another spot where bear sightings are commonly reported is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Many people think leaving food inside a car is safe, but bears will happily break into a vehicle to access a granola bar. The best time to encounter Bears is in the spring and summer. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Do not approach bears or allow them to approach you! If you are caught by a parker ranger, you will receive a fine of up $6,000 and a jail sentence of up to 6 months.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',179,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Bears who eat human food and their waste live a shorter life. At this number, this creates a population density of two bears per square mile. Cades Cove. So, when you visit this amazing Park, keep a keen eye on its inhabitants from a safe distance. You may think black bears in the Smoky Mountains only eat . The National Park Service requires you to always stay 50 yards or 150 feet away from wildlife. 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. If . The Red Fox is a solitary animal typically hunting alone. 865-436-7318, EXT 320. Feeding bears in the Smokies by the way is a big no-no and illegal. Allow 2-4 hours time for this excursion, maybe more if you plan on doing a bit of exploring or having a picnic perhaps. Especially a mother with cubs. Smoky mountains sustain an ecosystem consisting of thousands of species. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. Bears remain a majority of all the mammals present here, most likely seen during the Spring-summer months. These three trails are a good place to start. Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And remember. However, in the fall, their weight almost doubles. Check out our guide to Smoky Mountain wildlife for even more animals! The bear's keen sense of smell leads it to insects, nuts and berries, but the animal is also enticed by the tantalizing smells of human food and garbage such as hot dogs, apple cores, chips, and watermelon rinds left on the ground in picnic areas, campgrounds, and along trails. 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! How Common are Bear Attacks in Smoky Mountains? The bear will probably do the same. Bears over 600 pounds have been documented in the park. Although their bite is not lethal, it causes intense pain. [NPS]. Another great place to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is in the Cades Cove section of the national park. Dispose of all food scraps or garbage in bear proof garbage containers or take it home with you. When the weather turns cold, they vanish from the woods, heading into their dens for a winter of hibernation. Furthermore, bears also snuggle up in dens during the winter that they make in tree trunks and hollow stumps or in shallow caves below boulders to avoid any disturbances by hikers. 20 Must-Know Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts. Since the national park is 800 sq. You can watch them in Cades Cove or Cataloochee in the Smoky Mountains in the meadows near forests. 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. Black bears double their weight in the fall months. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Animals ranging from Salamanders to Elks and bobcats flourish in the wild. Please watch this short video. 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. Bears eat extra to double their weight by the fall since they sleep for so many months so they dont have to wake up and try to find food in the winter. Make yourself look bigger to the bear. Watch. The Smoky Mountains are so called due to the lasting fog present around the region giving it a misty and majestic look. As a bonus, Cades Cove offers plenty of other wildlife too, including white tailed deer and coyotes! Of course it most likely would never come to this as bears as long as you follow these basic guidelines for bear encounters, but maybe better safe than sorry? Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. This is the only Mountain lion in the Smoky Mountains. So be careful not to wander too far off your tour group/guide while hiking in the Smoky Mountains. Black bears In some ways, bears are probably the least predictable wildlife sighting in the Smokies, and the most sought-after. Dont make sudden movements that could startle or disturb the bear. You may also have the opportunity to spot white-tailed deer . Yes, there is with the black bears being the majority at approximately 1500. Explore the most visited national park in the country. Now I have not raced a bear recently so Ill have to take the internets word for this. This incredible park is bursting with wildlife, plant life, and exciting adventures to be experienced. However loss of habitat has resulted in a significant reduction in this range. For protein, black bears will eat Insects and animal carrion. You can spot them anywhere in the Smokies. Otters skillfully wade through the water at great speed using their tail in search of prey. Whenever bears come into our minds, they represent a creature that humans fear. You can find white-tailed deers in Cades Cove and Cataloochee or when hiking on the forest trails. There are no grizzlies in the Smokies, or Tennessee at all for that matter. In the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers Are Helping to Rebuild a Bear Population. A standing bear isnt necessarily showing signs of aggression. Also, you can find Rainbow Falls here which is a really popular waterfall. Wild berries like blackberries, blueberries, and huckleberries grow throughout the valley and are easy to harvest by bears. miles in size, this means bears have a population density of nearly 2 bears per square mile. Hence, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open to spot them and prevent any accidents when you hike. Thank you for visiting! These bears pose a risk to public safety. Do not give up and let the bear think you are food. The Chimneys Picnic Area also provides an excellent chance of spotting a bear! Bears, like humans, are omnivores. Proceed while continuing to observe the bear. Great Smoky Mountains National Park NC, TN Black Bear Management This orphaned bear cub from the Smokies gets another chance with a foster bear at Virginia Tech. 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. Everyone wants to see a black bear while they are visiting, and we want to share some interesting things about these beautiful creatures! Of thousands of species means bears have fantastic color vision and an amazing sense of smell 600! Everything you can watch them in Cades Cove because it has a suitable ecosystem and a variety of sources! Eyes and ears open to spot white-tailed deer to bring you one symbol of the parks famous black!! 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