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. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals. Therefore, take a look at our tips for safe wildlife viewing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to have a safe and enjoyable visit to the park! 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. Click Here, Top 4 Places to See Bears in the Smoky Mountains. 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! A bear might stand on its hind legs to get a better view and survey its surroundings. If one is spotted "running toward you, making loud noises, or. The elk population saw a sharp decline between the 80s and 90s but was reintroduced to the Park in 2001. Willfully approaching a bear within 150 feet is illegal in the park. At speeds of 30 mph, black bears can outrun, outclimb, and outswim humans. Increase the distance between you and the bear. Fight back with anything you have at your disposal, make loud noises. Male black bears can weigh about 250 pounds on average, while a female black bear weighs about 100 pounds. There are hundreds of miles of marked trails in the Great Smoky Mountains; stay on them and be aware of your surroundings. you are too close. So much so, that the Smokies are considered black bear sanctuaries. 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! The symbol of the Smokies, the American Black Bear, is perhaps the most famous resident of the park. 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. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. Black bears can live anywhere from 12-15 years. When it comes to dealing with bears in the Smokies, common sense is key. If a bear starts pursuing you, consider throwing an item like a camera or purse away from you. Garbage Kills Bears! About 1,500 black bears call the park home, for an average of two bears per square mile. The red-cheeked salamander is lungless and breathes through their skins, and visitors are advised not to touch or try to pet one if they spot it. Watch. Grizzly bears can be found in a select few states in the US. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. NPS photo. Every time we looked off of our balcony there he was. Females give birth to litters averaging 1-10 young in late summer. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Another spot where bear sightings are commonly reported is Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. 107 Park Headquarters Road As a bonus, Cades Cove offers plenty of other wildlife too, including white tailed deer and coyotes! The best time to see elks is at dawn or dusk, after a long night of rest and bright and early when they roam about looking for fresh wet pastures in the fords. Past the campsite the trail starts climbing, gaining 2,000 feet in only 3 miles. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. Female black bears in the Smoky Mountains average around 100 pounds, while the males hover around 250 pounds. Stand your ground if persistently followed. Mating usually takes place in July. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Everyone wants to know where you are likely to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains. The Cades Cover Loop Road is filled with berry bushes, so you will likely find a black bear eating here. However, bears in the Great Smoky Mountains Park are wild creatures and can be dangerously unpredictable. 3. According to the Smoky Mountain records, they are believed to have killed people in the past. Its a 5.4 mile round trip hike and is rated as moderately strenuous. These pervasive intruders feed on the acorns and other foods that are mainstays of bear diets. They may be six feet in length and up to three feet high at the shoulder. 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. 4. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Another place to see a bear is Ober Gatlinburg. In the Smoky Mountains, almost all of the bears are black, but in other regions, the bears can be brown or even cinnamon. 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. 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. 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. While mostly docile and calm animals, elks may charge at potential threats, including humans, so its best to observe them from a distance.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smokymtnopry_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smokymtnopry_com-leader-1-0'); White-tailed deer are common in the Smoky Mountains Park. The Bears are mainly vegetarian; they like to eat plants - squawroot, insects, wild berries, and nuts are their favorite. Theyre just one of the many animals that live in the national park, but they are by far the most popular! Browse all Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg condos. Call a ranger or visitor center if you spot someone else breaking the rules during their visit. Black bears usually step away when they feel a human presence unless you get too close and give them a hand or if they are scavenging garbage. 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. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. 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 a bear charges at you, they say not to run. Often, they must be euthanized. These bears are omnivores, relying for food on plants like fruits, and grass as well as insects. 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. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. Bears are like humans, they are omnivores. Most of these incidents were related to hungry bears attacking humans for their food. Some bears in the park have even been documented to weigh over 600 pounds! If a bear sees you, back away slowly. For protein, black bears will eat Insects and animal carrion. Cades Cove. River otters hunt the small amphibians that live in and along the rivers. Bears unafraid to approach humans teach this behavior to other bears and become a threat to the public, which often leads to euthanasia. Bears remain a majority of all the mammals present here, most likely seen during the Spring-summer months. Before their hibernation, they can double their body weight! Feeding the bears teaches them to forage for food from and around humans. As I mentioned above, allowing the bear to eat human food and trash also will decrease its lifespan significantly. He was obviously begging for food, someone must have been dropping him snacks. Coyotes adapt quickly to new environments and prefer to hunt at night. 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. Bear attacks in the Smoky Mountains are incredibly rare and deaths even more so. These creatures can be about 6 feet long and three feet tall at the shoulder. 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! This could distract the animal and give you time to make a clean get away. 2. 1-800-371-0341 . Nearly 1,500 black bears live in the Smoky Mountains national park. A Guide to the Road to Nowhere, Smoky Mountains. See winners from every year of the contest. Learn what to do if you see a bear by watching this short video. It is said that bears who have had regular access to human food may only live for half of this time. Explore the most visited national park in the country. It feeds on small game but can also eat human food if offered. Dont run and dont turn your back from the black bear. The trail bobs up and down past a few streams before reaching Hannah Cabin, built in 1864, at mile 1.2. Grizzly bears can only be found in a few states in the US, including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Black bears love Cades Cove because it has a suitable ecosystem and a variety of food sources. (2023 Updated), Gatlinburg SkyBridge: Everything You Need To Know. They also feast on dead animals and prey on deer. If you are hiking through the mountains, its easy to see The North American River Otters having a good romp along the river banks. 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. If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, there are several locations where sightings are especially common! 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. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. Provided that you escape the encounter, immediately report it to a park ranger or the Wildlife Resources Office. Past the campsite the trail starts climbing, gaining 2,000 feet in only 3 miles. 11 Common Animals in the Great Smoky Mountains, 8 Best ATV & UTV Rentals in Smoky Mountains 2023. These bears pose a risk to public safety. You should yell or throw a rock; they usually run away. The (Smokies) Great Smoky Mountains Park is home to dozens of wildlife. With numbers like that your odds of seeing a bear are pretty good, but picking the right spot can stack the deck. The best season to visit the Great Smokies Park is in the spring and at the onset of summer. It is illegal and irresponsible to feed the 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. Females give birth in late winter and can sire up to six kittens, which they raise for 6-8 months at most. Otters skillfully wade through the water at great speed using their tail in search of prey. As a precaution, you can also carry bear pepper spray for your protection, but be sure not to mishandle it. The bear will probably do the same. 4 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms. Learn what to do if you see a bear by watching this short video. Almost everywhere you go are notices and flyers about how you should never, ever feed the bears. Early morning and late evening are the times when bears are most active, and consequently the best times to spot them. While it is rare, if the bear makes contact with you - fight back. It will all depend on the areas you go and the time of year. The Great Smoky Mountains website warns parkgoers to avoid coming within 50 feet of black bears, which are native to the region. Make yourself look bigger to the bear. If you know you are going to be exploring the outdoors ahead of time, plan on bringing something appropriate to contain your trash. Smoky mountains sustain an ecosystem consisting of thousands of species. Act together as a group if you have companions. 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