Head left at the junction with Crooked Arm Ridge trail at mile .5, keeping an eye out for mountain laurel blooming among the hardwoods. These bears pose a risk to public safety. Bears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. But only when provoked. 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. During this time, they double in weight to protect themselves from the cold. Here are some of the top places to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains. It's essential to keep your distance for your own safety, the safety of those around you, and the bear itself. Both female and male bears may have more than one mate during the summer. 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. Feeding the bears teaches them to forage for food from and around humans. Do not run away from black bears as this may trigger a chase response. Browse cabins with pet friendly policies. This charming four-bedroom, five-bathroom cabin has plenty of space for . Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground). In addition, they are good tree climbers, can swim very well, and can run 30 miles per hour. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. 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. 20 Must-Know Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts. These three trails are a good place to start. These social groups make river otters playful. 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. Smoky Mountain Black Bears (American Black Bear) are most active during morning and early evening during Spring and Summer. They are immensely athletic, run at incredible speeds, and can quickly leap over an 8-foot fence. The black bears of Great Smoky Mountains are unusual in their den choicesthey often den several feet off the ground in standing hollow trees. 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. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. 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? The black bears can be seen in all elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding areas. Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Bears just like their space and mind their business, so just allow them that and all should be well! Sometimes you dont even have to enter the famous national park to see them, as bears frequently roam around Gatlinburg. Bear management is really people management. Look no further than Five Little Bears! The best time to encounter Bears is in the spring and summer. Be sure to give animal plenty of room and continue its activities as if you werent there. You can easily spot them at Cataloochee roaming on the grasses as they graze in the open meadows. There are no grizzlies in the Smokies, or Tennessee at all for that matter. 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 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. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. 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. Here are 5 things you should know about black bears in the Smoky Mountains: 1. You can spot them anywhere in the Smokies. You can watch them in Cades Cove or Cataloochee in the Smoky Mountains in the meadows near forests. Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. Females with newly born cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March or early April. 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. The black bears of Great Smoky Mountains are unusual in their den choicesthey often den several feet off the ground in standing hollow trees. Male black bears can weigh about 250 pounds on average, while a female black bear weighs about 100 pounds. Over time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food and may become more unpredictable and dangerous. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. You may think black bears in the Smoky Mountains only eat . So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. There are around 1500-1600 black bears living in the Smoky Mountains National Park. There are hundreds of miles of marked trails in the Great Smoky Mountains; stay on them and be aware of your surroundings. Coyotes adapt quickly to new environments and prefer to hunt at night. Bears have fantastic color vision and an amazing sense of smell. While this might seem obvious, a visit to Cades Cove or the Cherokee Orchard area will quickly prove that our visitors are guilty of this countless times every year. 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. Food can be kept inside the cabin, just as long as the windows and doors are kept closed. Dispose of all food scraps or garbage in bear proof garbage containers or take it home with you. 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. 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 . Before the center opened, news crews . The Great Smoky Mountains is the largest protected area in the eastern part of the country that has wild black bears. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. After all, they are pretty much the face of the park and Gatlinburg. These creatures can be about 6 feet long and three feet tall at the shoulder. you are too close. Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems. Want to get listed and grow your business? Past the campsite the trail starts climbing, gaining 2,000 feet in only 3 miles. They dwell in the woods and meadows, where they browse on grass and other forest foliage. The Red Fox is a solitary animal typically hunting alone. Don't forget to read about bear safety before you explore. 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. They grow up to 36 inches in length and have a copious body.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smokymtnopry_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',170,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-leader-2-0'); Generally, copperheads live on rocky, woody hillsides; they like to hide under leaf litter or large moist rocks in the Smoky Mountains. See the picture below. Thank you for visiting! Absolutely not. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. You should yell or throw a rock; they usually run away. 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. Black bears can live anywhere from 12-15 years. First and foremost the consensus is to stay calm. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,900 bears live in the park. It is relatively thick, with black or brown cross bands with chestnut, gray or yellow light backgrounds. They dont like extreme cold or extreme heat. The Gray Fox differs from the red ones with their black-tipped tail, unlike the red foxes with a white tail. If you travel to Gatlinburg expecting to see black bears everywhere you go, you may be disappointed. Proceed while continuing to observe the bear. Black bears, much like the Goldilocks story, like the weather just right. 2. Park rangers patrol picnic areas and campgrounds to enforce evening closures, littering and food storage regulations. Explore the most visited national park in the country. If you're with a group, use your strength in numbers to increase your visual size; avoid looking like prey. Willfully approaching a bear within 150 feet is illegal in the park. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. The Red Fox and the Gray Fox live in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more information please read our privacy policy. They are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Most cabins have bear-proof trash containers, which you must use, and latch closed. Other Threats to Bears Although bear attacks on humans are rare, they can happen. When you think of the Smoky Mountains, you probably also think of black bears. 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). Please watch this short video. Now you know even more about black bears in the 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. 1. The bear is demanding more space. Gatlinburg Others wander in terrestrial environments, including eerie caves in the high mountain forest. Want to know about other wildlife you might see while youre here? 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. Record weight for black bears is up to 600 pounds! A Guide to the Road to Nowhere, Smoky Mountains. They are not friendly around pets and will not hesitate to kill on sight! Black bears double their weight in the fall months. A bear sighting at the GSMNP makes for a great memory that wont soon be forgotten. Food sources like berries and wild apples, access to water, and good denning sites all increase the chances of spotting one of the Smokies bruins on your hike. 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. Provided that you escape the encounter, immediately report it to a park ranger or the Wildlife Resources Office. 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}. If you brought it with you, then pack it out! If you want to see black bears during your visit, we recommend heading to the Smoky Mountains during Spring or Summer. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants - squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. The black bear is kind of like the mascot for the Smokies, you see black bears on everything you can buy or rent. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. It will all depend on the areas you go and the time of year. The mountain Cougars seem shy and withdrawn, so they tend to stay out of sight, but they are dangerous. 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. 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