They are wild animals and can be unpredictable. The Oconaluftee Center and Cataloochee Valley is an ideal destination to see elks, specifically at dawn and at dusk. Be sure to give animal plenty of room and continue its activities as if you werent there. It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the bears. If you spot a bear and he doesnt see you, keep it that way. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cades Cove Visitor Center: 686 Cades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882. With numbers like that your odds of seeing a bear are pretty good, but picking the right spot can stack the deck. So, when you visit this amazing Park, keep a keen eye on its inhabitants from a safe distance. They also eat lizards, crayfish and fish. You may also have the opportunity to spot white-tailed deer . Wild apples dot the fields of this historic town and the surrounding woods, providing a valuable food source for several different wildlife species, including bears. Its a local saying. More Bearpacker: In the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers Are Helping to Rebuild a Bear Population. You should stand your ground and wave your arms in the air and make noises to deter the bear. Keep your distance. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. 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. As you walk through the national park, you will see lots of notices and flyers that will remind you of the perils of feeding the bears. At one time, the black bear's range included most of North America except the extreme west coast. Absolutely not! It is preferable not to hike alone. Black bears are unpredictable and can be very dangerous. Bears should also be treated with caution and respect. So be careful not to wander too far off your tour group/guide while hiking in the Smoky Mountains. In the Woods of Oklahoma, Researchers Are Helping to Rebuild a Bear Population. 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. Bears come out of hibernation and can eat anything during this time. Park rangers patrol picnic areas and campgrounds to enforce evening closures, littering and food storage regulations. 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. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Its common knowledge that black bears can be seen all over Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains National Park, we were excited to see one right out in the creek outside of our hotel room. We all know bears hibernate in the winter. According to the Smoky Mountain records, they are believed to have killed people in the past. 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. Check the "Bear Closures" and "Bear Warnings" section of the Temporary Closures page before planning a hike in the park. Bears are generally most active at dawn and dusk. The main thing you should take away from this is that you cannot outrun a 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. For more information please read our privacy policy. Don't forget to read about bear safety before you explore. See the picture below. 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. This 1-way loop drive is filled with historical sights and stunning nature. About 85% of their diet is from plants, though. 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. Some are pretty friendly; others prefer to stay out of sight, while others are dangerous and can pose a threat if not treated with proper respect. Dense green forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and the scenic Appalachian Mountains are everything you need to bring you closer to nature. Another great place to see bears in the Smoky Mountains is in the Cades Cove section of the national park. It is illegal to get. 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. Learn More About Black Bear Research in the Park. The bear will probably do the same. Here are some easy tips to remember when hiking, picnicking, camping or visiting The Smoky Mountains. Bears have color vision and a keen sense of smell. How Common are Bear Attacks in Smoky Mountains? In the Smoky Mountains, almost all of the bears are black, but in other regions, the bears can be brown or even cinnamon. Not only do these bears have a shorter lifespan from eating human food; they are much more likely to be euthanized for attacking humans. If you love to hike, you might even see black bears along the trails. The Red Fox is a solitary animal typically hunting alone. Want to get listed and grow your business? There is only one species of bear found in Tennessee, and that is the black bear. Commonly born in pairs, the cubs will remain with the mother for about eighteen months or until she mates again. 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! Please watch this short video. You probably dont know this, but not all black bears are black! Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If a bear charges at you, they say not to run. 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. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. Home Blog Smoky Mountain Wildlife 6 Facts You Should Know About Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. They can climb trees and run 30 miles per hour, making them fantastic hunters if they wanted to be. Stay calm. 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. Feeding the bears teaches them to forage for food from and around humans. Feeding bears in the Smokies by the way is a big no-no and illegal. Bears that obtain human food and garbage damage property and injure people. 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. Everyone wants to see a black bear while they are visiting, and we want to share some interesting things about these beautiful creatures! 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 American black bear might as well be the mascot of the Smoky Mountains! Some Timber Rattlesnakes have a solid black hue and can grow up to 4.5 feet long. Mule Deer Vs. Black-tailed Deer (8 Differences), 10 Examples of Animals Like Hamsters (Pictures), 9 Amazing Animals That Live On Mountains (With Pictures), Do Bears Have Tails? The best time to spot wildlife is at dawn when they come out of hiding to drink from the creeks or look for prey. 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. A Wondrous Diversity of Life. 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}. Also Read: Best Time to Visit Smoky Mountains. 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. The Great Smokies are referred to as the Salamander Capital due to their abundance in the Southern Mountains. So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. About 1,500 black bears call the park home, for an average of two bears per square mile. you are too close. They feed on moths, flies, spiders, beetles, and snails. 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 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. If you do a bit of exploring you are likely to see one. Here is how you should act when visiting the park. Everyone wants to know where you are likely to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains. 865-436-7318, EXT 320. 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. 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 . At mile 5.9, turn right on the Crooked Arm Ridge trail to head back to the parking lot. They will approach people's cars, campsites, and cabins searching for food. 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