Gatlinburg The drive also includes scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic areas and even a waterfall that can be seen from the road! These volunteers also assist in managing people during roadside bear jams. Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. So it is best to just do the right thing and go the other way. 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. Females give birth in late winter and can sire up to six kittens, which they raise for 6-8 months at most. This area is usually perfect for wildlife viewing because it is a wide valley surrounded by mountains, and Cades Cove bears are often sighted in the open valley. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities, or wherever there is shelter. Other Threats to Bears Youre likely to see countless species in your vicinity, whether driving along the forest or hiking in the mountains. You may also have the opportunity to spot white-tailed deer . 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. With numbers like that your odds of seeing a bear are pretty good, but picking the right spot can stack the deck. Bear Safety: Rule #1 Keep your distance. Use the food storage cables to store your food and garbage when camping. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. The newest attractions opening this year. Once they spot a catch, they grab it and roll over on their backs to eat while still in the water. You probably dont know this, but not all black bears are black! If a bear charges at you, they say not to run. Photo: Saw a Bear! by cletch is licensed under CC BY 2.0, Photo: Hannah Cabin, Little Cataloochee, NC by w_lemay is marked with CC0 1.0, Photo: File:Gregory-bald-fp1.jpg by Brian Stansberry is licensed under CC BY 2.5, Its hard to say whos more excited about the blueberries crowding this peak every August, the hikers or the bears. You can learn more about hibernation here. They are bears, sure they can be dangerous if provoked or threatened. 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. Dense green forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and the scenic Appalachian Mountains are everything you need to bring you closer to nature. 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. Females give birth to litters averaging 1-10 young in late summer. Its a local saying. Browse all Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg condos. Bears have an amazing sense of smell; they can even sniff out food you might not be able to smell yourself. There have been reports of bears weight upwards of 600 lbs. Smoky mountains sustain an ecosystem consisting of thousands of species. 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. The black bear is one of the most popular animals for visitors to spot in Tennessees Smoky Mountains! In this article, we have lined up some of the most common animals in the Smoky Mountains in no particular order.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-box-4','ezslot_4',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-box-4-0'); Nearly 1,500 black bears live in the Smoky Mountains national park. 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? Bears have a keen sense of smell and can be very curious. It feeds on small game but can also eat human food if offered. If youre visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, dont be afraid of these wild cats because they are harmless, but do not like to be intimidated, so dont get too close. At speeds of 30 mph, black bears can outrun, outclimb, and outswim humans. Are There Mountain Lions 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. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. Black bears, much like the Goldilocks story, like the weather just right. They dont like extreme cold or extreme heat. Act together as a group if you have companions. LeConte! 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. See winners from every year of the contest. 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! This is taken very seriously in the Smokies and I suggest you take it seriously as well. I would say any time in May through September will be your best bet, I saw a young male recently in July. Wildlife managers actively monitor for bear activity and use innovative and proactive techniques to keep bears shy, secretive, and afraid of people. 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. Whenever bears come into our minds, they represent a creature that humans fear. However, unlike popular belief, black bears are rarely aggressive towards people. They confiscate unattended food or coolers and clean up food scraps left behind by careless visitors. Look no further than Five Little Bears! While driving along the loop road or stopping to stretch your legs for a short hike, keep your eyes open as you may get to see mother black bears with her cubs walking around! Black bears can live anywhere from 12-15 years. At mile 3.4, turn right on the Indian Grave Gap trail before starting downhill. As a precaution, you can also carry bear pepper spray for your protection, but be sure not to mishandle it. And remember. Learn what to do if you see a bear by watching this short video. Cades Cove. There are 23 varieties of snakes in the Smokies, but only two of them are poisonous. If you spot a bear and he doesnt see you, keep it that way. First and foremost the consensus is to stay calm. These cats hunt small deers, rabbits, rodents, and birds as prey.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',178,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Bobcats are solitary animals and prefer to establish their territories and use scents to mark them against prowlers. If you want to see black bears during your visit, we recommend heading to the Smoky Mountains during Spring or Summer. They can climb trees and run 30 miles per hour, making them fantastic hunters if they wanted to be. About 1,500 black bears call the park home, for an average of two bears per square mile. The Oconaluftee Center and Cataloochee Valley is an ideal destination to see elks, specifically at dawn and at dusk. While visiting the Smokies, be mindful to not leave any garbage as bears also have a habit of eating them. These creatures are pretty stocky, and they pack on the pounds before winter. This is a myth, it didnt work out too well for Leo DiCaprio either. After all, they are pretty much the face of the park and Gatlinburg. You may be thinking then why is the NBA team in Memphis, Tennessee called the Memphis Grizzlies? This team was originally in Vancouver, Canada and apparently on Vancouver Island there have been instances of grizzly bear sightings. So pack accordingly. Call a ranger or visitor center if you spot someone else breaking the rules during their visit. Learn more. 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. Allow 2-4 hours time for this excursion, maybe more if you plan on doing a bit of exploring or having a picnic perhaps. The Great Smoky Mountains website warns parkgoers to avoid coming within 50 feet of black bears, which are native to the region. Bears that obtain human food and garbage damage property and injure people. If one is spotted "running toward you, making loud noises, or. Explore the most visited national park in the country. Poaching: Unfortunately, the lure of high profits on international markets encourages the poaching of black bears. Please use them to dispose of garbage. You should use binoculars, cameras, or spotting scope to look at bears up close instead of trying to physically get near them. 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. 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. Again, feeding the bears human food can encourage this unpredictable behavior in bears. Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. 3. In some areas the number of bears that have to be trapped and moved away has decreased by ten fold! Black bears are unpredictable and can be very dangerous. Proceed while continuing to observe the bear. These social groups make river otters playful. It's essential to keep your distance for your own safety, the safety of those around you, and the bear itself. According to the North American Bear Center, since the year 1900, black bears have killed just 61 people across North America.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',178,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',178,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-178{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:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Its easy to spot one in the Smokies due to their colorful red hue and fluffy tail. Many are hit by cars and become easy targets for poachers. Cades Cove. Watch. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. 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. It is estimated that about 1,500 black bears live in the national park. The Great Smoky Mountains largest animal, the elk, weighs up to 700 pounds with a height of 5 Ft. at shoulder length. At mile 5.9, turn right on the Crooked Arm Ridge trail to head back to the parking lot. The adult male river otter also moves around in packs consisting of other males of up to 15 or more. As I mentioned above, allowing the bear to eat human food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly. According to a range of knowledgeable sources, the best place to see black bears when visiting the Smoky Mountains is in Cades Cove, a spot just a few miles from Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); They generally like to spend time in remote, highly wooded areas. Backcountry regulations require that all food and odorous items be stored with the bear cable system at each campsite or shelter. Here are the top 4 places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains: 1. This incredible park is bursting with wildlife, plant life, and exciting adventures to be experienced. If you do a bit of exploring you are likely to see one. Whether youre a first-time visitor or a frequent guest, test Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forgecampgrounds come in many forms. 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. Back away slowly and quietly without disturbing the creature. They also eat lizards, crayfish and fish. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. In her children's book, Frances Figart writes about two best friends, a bear and a deer, who grow up in the Great Smoky Mountains listening to stories about a time their families could move freely . as adults. Stay safe in black bear country! However, bears may double their weight by the fall. Another non-native species, the gypsy moth, is expanding its range toward the park. If you are careless with your food or litter, YOU may be responsible for a bear's death! Bears weigh eight ounces at birth. 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 get into a situation where it requires that you defend yourself, then a can of bear spray may come in handy. Bear attacks in the Smoky Mountains are incredibly rare and deaths even more so. This is the only Mountain lion in the Smoky Mountains. It is thought that around 1,500 bears live in the park, this is roughly two bears per square mile. Also, you can find Rainbow Falls here which is a really popular waterfall. The Great Smoky Mountains is the largest protected area in the eastern part of the country that has wild black bears. Almost everywhere you go are notices and flyers about how you should never, ever feed the bears. This massive park stretches over 522,427 acres of mountains, lush forests, streams, and valleys. Bearpacker is Backpackers annual celebration of bear safety, science, and stories. 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