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. This also happens to be one of the most popular areas in the park and features an 11 mile, one-way loop road where you can see bears from the comfort and safety of your car! The Chimneys Picnic Area also provides an excellent chance of spotting a bear! It is illegal to get. 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 like to howl at night. So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. You cant touch them since you would be interfering with the breathing system. When you think of the Smoky Mountains, you probably also think of black bears. One common location is Cades Cove. In addition, bears that venture outside park boundaries into neighboring communities may encounter human food and become unpredictable, dangerous, and a threat to human safety. The National Park Service requires you to always stay 50 yards or 150 feet away from wildlife. Colonial Properties Logo | Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals. Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Store: 9275 Tremont Road, Townsend . If you are careless with your food or litter, YOU may be responsible for a bear's death! Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. Photo: "Clingmans Dome (AKA Smoky Dome) - Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, USA" by jody.claborn is marked with CC PDM 1.0. Are Mountain Monsters Real: 10 Mountain Monster Stories, Common Animals in the Great Smoky Mountains. As I mentioned above, allowing the bear to eat human food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States! Again, never feed or throw food to the bears. Therefore, your odds are pretty good if you plan to spend any significant amount of time in the park! There is only one species of bear found in Tennessee, and that is the black bear. Keeping your distance prevents the bears from becoming disturbed, and keeps you and the bears safe. Thank you for visiting! If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting: If the bear's behavior indicates that it is after your food and you are physically attacked: If the bear shows no interest in your food and you are physically attacked, the bear may consider you as prey: Help protect others, report all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. Proceed while continuing to observe the bear. Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the park. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants - squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. The black bear is one of the most popular animals for visitors to spot in Tennessees Smoky Mountains! Willfully approaching a bear within 150 feet is illegal in the park. When it comes to dealing with bears in the Smokies, common sense is key. Bear proof dumpsters or trash cans can be found in all campgrounds and picnic areas. Hence, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open to spot them and prevent any accidents when you hike. Bear attacks in the Smoky Mountains are incredibly rare and deaths even more so. However, bears may double their weight by the fall. Learn More About Black Bear Research in the Park. Good luck and be safe! The Great Smokies are referred to as the Salamander Capital due to their abundance in the Southern Mountains. Head left at the junction with Crooked Arm Ridge trail at mile .5, keeping an eye out for mountain laurel blooming among the hardwoods. 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. 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 black bears of Great Smoky Mountains are unusual in their den choicesthey often den several feet off the ground in standing hollow trees. 865-436-7318, EXT 321. Another great place to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is in the Cades Cove section of the national park. A bear might stand on its hind legs to get a better view and survey its surroundings. to any bear in the national park. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a beautiful 5.5 mile one-way loop road that starts and ends in Gatlinburg, making it convenient for those who want to make a quick side trip from downtown Gatlinburg! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States! They confiscate unattended food or coolers and clean up food scraps left behind by careless visitors. Want to get listed and grow your business? Whether youre a first-time visitor or a frequent guest, test Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forgecampgrounds come in many forms. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. Here are some of the top places to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains. LeConte! 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. Please use them to dispose of garbage. Its best to turn around and go back the way you came, especially if it appears to be a mother with cubs nearby as they can act aggressively if they feel threatened. The biggest salamander can grow to more than two feet long. See the picture below. 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. Want to get listed and grow your business? Grizzly bears can only be found in a few states in the US, including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. How Common are Bear Attacks in Smoky Mountains? They live in social units mostly a mother and her young ones until they mature. If . WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Male black bears can weigh about 250 pounds on average, while a female black bear weighs about 100 pounds. (2023 Updated), Gatlinburg SkyBridge: Everything You Need To Know. It is estimated that around 1,500 bears live inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are many places because they are literally all over the place. 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. Most cabins have bear-proof trash containers, which you must use, and latch closed. Even by taking all the right precautions, you could still encounter a bear in the Smokies. Both female and male bears may have more than one mate during the summer. You can spot them anywhere in the Smokies. Commonly known as Bucks in the region, they grow uneven horns every spring; used to fight other deers for mating rights by fall. Stay calm. In many cases, a startled bear is an aggressive bear. Bears over 600 pounds have been documented in the park. During the warm winter days, you may have a chance to also see bears coming out of these shelters. At this number, this creates a population density of two bears per square mile. Another place to see a bear is Ober Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg The newest attractions opening this year. This is taken very seriously in the Smokies and I suggest you take it seriously as well. The mating season is between spring and fall. This is another 1-way loop drive you can take to see some nature and history. However, in the fall, their weight almost doubles. In the year 2000, the Chicago Tribune reported that a woman was killed by a black bear within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 10 miles away from Gatlinburg. If you know you are going to be exploring the outdoors ahead of time, plan on bringing something appropriate to contain your trash. This is a myth, it didnt work out too well for Leo DiCaprio either. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. As you may know, bears hibernate in the winter. 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. Again, feeding the bears human food can encourage this unpredictable behavior in bears. 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. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. Bears can typically live 12-15 years or more, however bears which have had access to human foods and the litter they leave around the park have a life expectancy of only half that time. Feeding bears is illegal in the Smoky Mountains.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Also Read: How Common are Bear Attacks in Smoky Mountains? In the eastern section of North America, the majority of black bears are a deep black. There are 23 varieties of snakes in the Smokies, but only two of them are poisonous. Feeding the bears teaches them to forage for food from and around humans. A three-year-old girl and mother both sustained superficial lacerations . Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk. Garbage Kills Bears! The best time to spot wildlife is at dawn when they come out of hiding to drink from the creeks or look for prey. Every time we looked off of our balcony there he was. They mostly hunt fish, frogs, rabbits, and rodents. 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. This massive park stretches over 522,427 acres of mountains, lush forests, streams, and valleys. Its a local saying. Browse all Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg condos. Bear Safety: Rule #1 Keep your distance. Its hard to say whos more excited about the blueberries crowding this peak every August, the hikers or the bears. These creatures are pretty stocky, and they pack on the pounds before winter. 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). Female black bears in the Smoky Mountains average around 100 pounds, while the males hover around 250 pounds. Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. At this number, this creates a population density of two bears per square mile. You can drive around on the loop and possibly see them passing through fields or even see them near the historic buildings or along the creek. The drive also includes scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic areas and even a waterfall that can be seen from the road! Use the food storage cables to store your food and garbage when camping. 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. While it is rare, if the bear makes contact with you - fight back. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. So it is best to just do the right thing and go the other way. If you're with a group, use your strength in numbers to increase your visual size; avoid looking like prey. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Here is how you should act when visiting the park. Source: @carlosfineartphoto It's essential to keep your distance for your own safety, the safety of those around you, and the bear itself. 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. They are deadly snakes, so do not approach or attempt to kill if you see one. 250 pounds. Bears have a keen sense of smell and can be very curious. 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. 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. 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! Bears remain a majority of all the mammals present here, most likely seen during the Spring-summer months. More black bears live within the national park than anywhere else in the country. Cades Cove Visitor Center: 686 Cades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882. But once the critical habitats are destroyed, major declines in bear populations are inevitable. In fact, its they are so rare that it can be difficult to find statistics on bear attack. In some areas the number of bears that have to be trapped and moved away has decreased by ten fold! So pack accordingly. Females with newly born cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March or early April. Want to know about other wildlife you might see while youre here? 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. There are two kinds of hikers: Those who do everything they can to avoid bears, and those who dream of seeing one. Although extremely rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death. Bears weigh eight ounces at birth. Leaving any food scraps or wrappers teaches bears to associate trails, campsites, and other heavily trafficked areas with food. 1. Black bears can be seen throughout the year except rarely during the winter months. you are too close. Theyre just one of the many animals that live in the national park, but they are by far the most popular! They feed on moths, flies, spiders, beetles, and snails. Browse cabins with pet friendly policies. 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. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, there are several locations where sightings are especially common! The landscape stretches over 500,000 acres between the States of Tennessee and North Carolina.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-medrectangle-3-0'); The Great Smokies National Park forms the largest wilderness making the area one of the crown jewels of the ecosystem, east of the Mississippi River. Check the "Bear Closures" and "Bear Warnings" section of the Temporary Closures page before planning a hike in the park. 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. You can watch them in Cades Cove or Cataloochee in the Smoky Mountains in the meadows near forests. Bobcats have spotted coats, short ears, and stubby tails. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. 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. The black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. They can climb trees and run 30 miles per hour, making them fantastic hunters if they wanted to be. They are omnivores and eat things like fish, nuts, berries, and plants. 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. There is only one species of bear in Tennessee and that is the black bear. So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. The main thing you should take away from this is that you cannot outrun a bear. After all, they are pretty much the face of the park and Gatlinburg. The Great Smoky Mountains are home to the densest population of black bears in the United States. In the Smoky Mountains, almost all of the bears are black, but in other regions, the bears can be brown or even cinnamon. 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! 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. There are no grizzlies in the Smokies, or Tennessee at all for that matter. 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. Bears in the park are wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. Animals around the Cades Cove include black bears, deer, coyotes and many more. Above all, keep your distance from bears! A Grand View Lodge #540. Bears should also be treated with caution and respect. If you find your cabin does not have this, arrange for an employee to bring you one. Do not approach within 50 yards or close enough to disturb the bear. Check out these 5 facts you should know about black bears in the Smoky Mountains: In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, biologists estimate there are about 1,500 black bears. All you need to know about the most visited national park in the country. 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. This insect defoliates oak trees, weakening them and leaving them susceptible to other insects and diseases which may kill the trees. Campers should not burn food scraps or trash at any fire pit or grill. Try to protect others as safely as you can. Spotting a bear in the Smokies can be a wonderful experience, but it's important to remember that these majestic creatures can also be dangerous - and we can be dangerous to them. Results of these efforts are very encouraging. 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. 20 Must-Know Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts. Commonly born in pairs, the cubs will remain with the mother for about eighteen months or until she mates again. 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. Feeding bears in the Smokies by the way is a big no-no and illegal. Another non-native species, the gypsy moth, is expanding its range toward the park. Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. At a safe distance of at least 150 feet this is a good opportunity to enjoy the sight before quietly moving away. Others wander in terrestrial environments, including eerie caves in the high mountain forest. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. In 2006, biologists estimated that the bear population in the national park was around 1,500, which means there is an average of two bears every square mile. If you're one of the latter, Great Smoky Mountains is the place. Bears can live 12-15 years or more, however bears which have had access to human foods and garbage have a life expectancy of only half that time.