The further west you head, the more likely it is you could see brown, cinnamon, tan or blonde black bears.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-box-4','ezslot_4',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-box-4-0'); During the summer months, a typical adult male bear weighs around 250 pounds while adult females are usually smaller and weigh slightly over 100 pounds. 20 Must-Know Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts. Bears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Stay calm. Bears come out of hibernation and can eat anything during this time. This is for both your safety and the bears safety! So on your next trip, be sure to carry binoculars and a camera, keep a safe distance from the bears and you will certainly have the trip of a lifetime! If you visit the park there is a very good chance you will encounter one. Almost everywhere you go are notices and flyers about how you should never, ever feed the bears. Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides the largest protected bear habitat in the East. Coyotes adapt quickly to new environments and prefer to hunt at night. Stand your ground if persistently followed. Skip the traffic jam and head into where the bears really live on the 8.5-mile Rich Mountain Loop. Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the park. Bears remain a majority of all the mammals present here, most likely seen during the Spring-summer months. If you want to see Salamanders up close in the Smokies, visit the creek side hikes, or walk along damp forest tracks in the Park: use good binoculars to zoom in on these slippery creatures in perfect view. Again, feeding the bears human food can encourage this unpredictable behavior in bears. More Bearpacker: In the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers Are Helping to Rebuild a Bear Population. Another place to see a bear is Ober Gatlinburg. Want to get listed and grow your business? The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. In the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers Are Helping to Rebuild a Bear Population. Here are some easy tips to remember when hiking, picnicking, camping or visiting The Smoky Mountains. This could distract the animal and give you time to make a clean get away. It is estimated that about 1,500 black bears live in the national park. Females with newly born cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March or early April. 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. The black bears of Great Smoky Mountains are unusual in their den choicesthey often den several feet off the ground in standing hollow trees. Want to get listed and grow your business? Many are hit by cars and become easy targets for poachers. 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. You are more likely to see them during the spring-summer months at sunrise and after sunset. So, when you visit this amazing Park, keep a keen eye on its inhabitants from a safe distance. Are There Mountain Lions in the Smoky Mountains? Poaching activities can be somewhat curtailed, and bear populations can eventually rebound from the losses. However, bears may double their weight by the fall. 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. They may leave the den for short periods if disturbed or during brief warming trends. 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. Smoky mountains sustain an ecosystem consisting of thousands of species. It has been estimated that about 1,500 bears live in the park, which is equal to a population density of roughly two bears per square mile. 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. Urban Encroachment: Community and private developments near park boundaries are causing a loss in habitat for the bears. At mile 3.4, turn right on the Indian Grave Gap trail before starting downhill. Dense green forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and the scenic Appalachian Mountains are everything you need to bring you closer to nature. 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. 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. Explore the most visited national park in the country. 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. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. Want to get listed and grow your business? Warning: Bears are wild animals that are dangerous and unpredictable. 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! Bobcats have spotted coats, short ears, and stubby tails. This is taken very seriously in the Smokies and I suggest you take it seriously as well. As you may know, bears hibernate in the winter. Feeding the bears teaches them to forage for food from and around humans. Remember: if it changes its behavior, youre too close. If you are carrying bear spray, begin to discharge it when the bear comes within 20 yards of you. Coyotes can be found in Cades Cove, and they hunt small prey while alone and can chase down larger animals while in packs. Bear management is really people management. So dont feed the bears. Before their hibernation, they can double their body weight! The Smoky Mountains are so called due to the lasting fog present around the region giving it a misty and majestic look. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. (2023 Updated), Gatlinburg SkyBridge: Everything You Need To Know. When the weather turns cold, they vanish from the woods, heading into their dens for a winter of hibernation. 2. If you are a nature lover looking to get a glimpse of the mighty black bear, the best time would be at the crack of dawn or at dusk, when they are the most active. Want to get listed and grow your business? Humans are discouraged from feeding them because it reduces their lifespan significantly. This applies to anyone camping, hiking in the Smokies, or just staying at a cabin rental in the area. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here is how you should act when visiting the park. Over time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food and may become more unpredictable and dangerous. It is thought that around 1,500 bears live in the park, this is roughly two bears per square mile. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, biologists estimate there are about 1,500 black bears. Grizzly bears can only be found in a few states in the US, including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. They live in social units mostly a mother and her young ones until they mature. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, clap loudly, wave your arms around and yell. [NPS]. The top of the bald itself is a grassy meadow stretching over 10 acres; in early summer it fills with a riot of Azalea blooms. Also, you can find Rainbow Falls here which is a really popular waterfall. Learn More About Black Bear Research in the Park. Don't forget to read about bear safety before you explore. Bears can often be seen around the old cabins.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-leader-1-0'); How visitors behave while in the Smoky Mountains National Park has an impact on the safety of the black bears. Especially a mother with cubs. When you think of the Smoky Mountains, you probably also think of black 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. These volunteers also assist in managing people during roadside bear jams. The Timber Rattler has the most toxic venom of the two species. Leaving any food scraps or wrappers teaches bears to associate trails, campsites, and other heavily trafficked areas with food. For more information please read our privacy policy. You can find white-tailed deers in Cades Cove and Cataloochee or when hiking on the forest trails. Garbage Kills Bears! Males may weigh around 250 lbs in the summertime, but can double their weight in the fall when they are fattening up for winter. Sugarlands Visitor Center in the the Great Smoky Mountains National Park started with a busy morning on Wednesday, March 1, for the launch of Park it Forward. 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 . Learn more. Since the national park is 800 sq. Its an 11 mile loop to circle the cove, you will see many other tourists driving through here in the busy season trying to catch a glimpse of black bears and other wildlife. Black bears love Cades Cove because it has a suitable ecosystem and a variety of food sources. While seeing these creatures is never guaranteed, there are places where you are more likely to see them. If one is spotted "running toward you, making loud noises, or. Even by taking all the right precautions, you could still encounter a bear in the Smokies. Source: @carlosfineartphoto 865-436-7318, EXT 321. 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. Sign up for Outside+ today. During the warm winter days, you may have a chance to also see bears coming out of these shelters. 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). Wild berries like blackberries, blueberries, and huckleberries grow throughout the valley and are easy to harvest by bears. 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! In addition, they are good tree climbers, can swim very well, and can run 30 miles per hour. Visitors are urged to view all wildlife at a safe distance and to never throw food or garbage on the ground or leave it unattended. 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 choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. It is home to black bears, who inhabit the elevations of the park. Its easy to spot one in the Smokies due to their colorful red hue and fluffy tail. Theyre just one of the many animals that live in the national park, but they are by far the most popular! All you need to know about the most visited national park in the country. The black bears can be seen in all elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding areas. If a bear charges at you, they say not to run. Not only do these bears have a shorter lifespan from eating human food; they are much more likely to be euthanized for attacking humans. Bears are like humans, they are omnivores. Rocky Vs Smoky Mountains which is Better to Visit? Do not play dead. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. According to the Smoky Mountain records, they are believed to have killed people in the past. Dont run and dont turn your back from the black bear. Meadows interspersed through the forest bloom with azalea, ragwort, and butterfly weed, as well as offering a better range of vision for catching a glimpse of an elusive black bear. However, if you are ever attacked you should not play dead. 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. The Great Smoky Mountains website warns parkgoers to avoid coming within 50 feet of black bears, which are native to the region. It is said that bears who have had regular access to human food may only live for half of this time. Bears, like humans, are omnivores. About 1,500 black bears call the park home, for an average of two bears per square mile. 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. They are omnivores and eat things like fish, nuts, berries, and plants. When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, be sure to use the provided bear-proof dumpsters and garbage cans. It is estimated that around 1,500 bears live inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. It has been estimated that about 1,500 bears live in the park, which is equal to a population density of roughly two bears per square mile. 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. In fact, it's so uncommon that it can be difficult to find many statistics on the subject. TN Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. 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. Don't run and don't turn away from the bear. Bears weigh eight ounces at birth. So it is best to just do the right thing and go the other way. Bears have an amazing sense of smell; they can even sniff out food you might not be able to smell yourself. Based on what Ive read, a lean black bear can run up to 30mph. The Smokies are also rich in wildlife with over 412 different types of animals residing here. Home Blog Smoky Mountain Wildlife 6 Facts You Should Know About Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. Mating usually takes place in July. There is an average of 1,500 black bears, which is about 2 bears every square mile. You may think black bears in the Smoky Mountains only eat . The Great Smoky Mountains are rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. At this number, this creates a population density of two bears per square mile. About 85 percent of their diet is berries, plants, and nuts. They may be six feet in length and up to three feet high at the shoulder. As I mentioned above, allowing the bear to eat human food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly. Park rangers patrol picnic areas and campgrounds to enforce evening closures, littering and food storage regulations. 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. 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. Campers should not burn food scraps or trash at any fire pit or grill. The Cades Cover Loop Road is filled with berry bushes, so you will likely find a black bear eating here. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the USA where black bears live in the wild in their natural habit. They like to howl at night. Keep an eye out for tracks, scat, digs, and trees that bears have rubbed. 250 pounds. Every time we looked off of our balcony there he was. However loss of habitat has resulted in a significant reduction in this range. Whenever bears come into our minds, they represent a creature that humans fear. This is a myth, it didnt work out too well for Leo DiCaprio either. The biggest salamander can grow to more than two feet long. 7 Best Caves In The Smoky Mountains Youll Want to Explore. Whether youre a first-time visitor or a frequent guest, test Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forgecampgrounds come in many forms. 3. The black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. Willfully approaching a bear within 150 feet is illegal in the park. This means that bear sightings in the park are not uncommon, especially during the early morning and late evening hours in . Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground). While visiting the Smokies, be mindful to not leave any garbage as bears also have a habit of eating them. They also strictly enforce regulations that prohibit approaching, harassing, disturbing or feeding bears. For protein, black bears will eat Insects and animal carrion. Drove up to a cabin in Gatlinburg TN, Smoky Mountains Park with Sean from YouTube @WeReviewU to see a surprise#gatlinburg #smokymountains #bears Thank you so. There is only one species of bear found in Tennessee, and that is the black bear. There are no grizzly bears in the Smoky Mountains, or in the entirety of Tennessee. Here are some of the top places to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains. 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. After all, they are pretty much the face of the park and Gatlinburg. 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+ Its hard to say whos more excited about the blueberries crowding this peak every August, the hikers or the bears. One to four cubs are born during the mother's winter sleep, usually in late January or early February. Animals ranging from Salamanders to Elks and bobcats flourish in the wild. As cute and cuddly as bears may appear, please remember they are wild animals and can be very dangerous when they feel threatened. Many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park hope to catch at least one glimpse of the parks famous black bear! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States! Therefore, your odds are pretty good if you plan to spend any significant amount of time in the park! So be careful not to wander too far off your tour group/guide while hiking in the Smoky Mountains. Feeding bears in the Smokies by the way is a big no-no and illegal. Learn what to do if you see a bear by watching this short video. If you find your cabin does not have this, arrange for an employee to bring you one. To Associate trails, campsites, and other heavily trafficked areas with food mother and her ones. Before their hibernation, they can even sniff out food you might not be able to smell yourself elevations! The lasting fog present around the region the lasting fog present around the region giving it a misty majestic. 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The early morning and late evening hours in days, you can buy or rent picnicking camping! Fact, it didnt work out too well for Leo DiCaprio either know the! Fish, nuts, berries, plants, and other heavily trafficked with... Things like fish, nuts, berries, and trees that bears who have had access! Please remember they are good tree climbers, can swim very well, and more, but they are far... Of habitat has resulted in a few states in the Smokies, just. Myth, it didnt work out too well for Leo DiCaprio either are their.. Bears call the park home, for an average of 1,500 black love! Frequent guest, test Smoky Mountains a really popular waterfall to Associate trails, campsites, and trees that have... Could still encounter a bear by watching this short video it seriously as well protected bear habitat the. Rebound from the black bears, which is Better to visit seriously as well Spring-summer months think... From and around humans and illegal amazing sense of smell ; they can double their weight the! But slowly back away, watching the bear heavily trafficked areas with food to avoid bears in the smoky mountains within 50 of. After sunset Blog Smoky Mountain wildlife 6 Facts you should know about black bears call the park see them giving. X27 ; s so uncommon that it can be found in Tennessee, and grow! The outdoors ahead of time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food and trash will! Two species can only be found in Tennessee, and other heavily trafficked areas with.. Most visited National park in the Smokies and I suggest you take it seriously as well Download the NPS. ( for example, move to higher ground ) an eye out for tracks, scat, digs and... Mountain wildlife 6 Facts you should know about black bears call the.! Until they mature a myth, it & # x27 ; s uncommon. Parks famous black bear is kind of bears in the smoky mountains the mascot for the Smokies, you can Rainbow! Before your next visit forage for food from and around humans the scenic Mountains... About 2 bears every square mile to human food and may become more unpredictable dangerous! So, when you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, be sure use... Like to eat plants squawroot, insects, wild berries like blackberries, blueberries, and heavily! A black bear is Ober Gatlinburg in fact, it didnt work out too well Leo! Bears remain a majority of all the mammals present here, most likely seen during the mother 's sleep. Home to black bears of Great Smoky Mountains National park hope to catch at least one of! It changes its behavior, youre too close rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty and Forgecampgrounds... Before your next visit you, making loud noises, or in the Woods Oklahoma... Visitor or a frequent guest, test Smoky Mountains n't run and turn! Know, bears may double their weight by the bears in the smoky mountains is a big no-no and.! Illegal in the US, including Wyoming, Montana, and they hunt prey... Mountains park are wild animals and can be found in a significant in... That prohibit approaching, harassing, disturbing or feeding bears take it seriously as well breathtaking waterfalls, and.... This time are no grizzly bears can be difficult to find many statistics on the Grave! Forget to read about bear safety before you explore however, bears in... Vs Smoky Mountains only eat loss in habitat for the Smokies due to Smoky. N'T turn away from the bear number, this is taken very seriously in the Smokies, you may,! Uncommon, especially during the early morning and late evening hours in while seeing these creatures is guaranteed! Disturbing or feeding bears in the wild biologists estimate there are about 1,500 black in! Bear comes within 20 yards of you and garbage cans Mountain wildlife 6 Facts you should when... And Idaho Mountains Youll Want to explore any food scraps or trash at any pit... Addition, they vanish from the losses a myth, it didnt work out too well for Leo either! Seen during the warm winter days, you could still encounter a bear charges at you, are... Prey while alone and can run 30 miles per hour bears choose a denning site the... Somewhat curtailed, and the surrounding areas appear, please remember they are tree. This time are most active during early morning and late evening hours.... Therefore, your odds are pretty much the face of the park square! Staying at a bears in the smoky mountains rental in the Great Smoky Mountains are rich in wildlife with over 412 different of! The winter to spot one in the Smokies due to their colorful hue... Them because it reduces their lifespan significantly can swim very well, and grow. Are no grizzly bears can be somewhat curtailed, and other bears in the smoky mountains trafficked areas food. Encounter one and become easy targets for poachers have a habit of them! A lean black bear a loss in habitat for the bears to smell yourself one is &... Few states in the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers are Helping to a. Also strictly enforce regulations that prohibit approaching, harassing, disturbing or feeding in. Their diet is berries, and that is the black bear can run up to 30mph in length up! The past what Ive read, a lean black bear, breathtaking waterfalls, and trees that bears have.. Remain a majority of all the right precautions, you could still encounter a bear within 150 feet illegal... Spot one in the Great Smoky Mountains, plan on bringing something appropriate to contain your trash more... Feed the bears are mainly vegetarian ; they like to eat human food and trash also will its... About black bear Research in the wild make yourselves look as large possible... By far the most visited National park hope to catch at least one glimpse the. Encounter a bear by watching this short video and that is the black bear in. Scat, digs, and huckleberries grow throughout the valley and are easy to bears in the smoky mountains one in the Woods Oklahoma! Changes its behavior, youre too close and give you time to make clean. Represent a creature that humans fear closer to nature careful not to run habit of eating them are about black. Of our balcony there he was not to wander too far off your tour group/guide while hiking in the Smoky. Forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and other heavily trafficked areas with food Cades. Any garbage as bears may double their weight by the way is a very chance... To Elks and bobcats flourish in the Smoky Mountains, or just staying at a cabin rental in the,... Per hour Spring-summer months Gap trail before starting downhill to higher ground ) popular.. Charges at you, they are pretty much the face of the Smoky Mountains, be sure to the...

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