Smokies Black Bear
A few interesting facts for visitors to the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Black Bears
There is an estimated 1,500 - 1,600 black bears in the Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an estimated 2 black bears per square mile. About the last 60 years the black bear population has grown five times it’s original estimated numbers, despite the last 2 years bear hunting seasons.
Black bears eat plants, nuts, berries, insects and various meats. We also know that human food and garbage have become a part of the black bears diet, though harmful to their health as well as a serious concern for the safety of park visitors. Humans are the largest threat to the black bears.
Tennessee Smoky Mountain Black Bears Visit Cabin Rentals
Several visitors to the Smoky Mountains area have been visited themselves by local Smoky Mountain Black Bears.
As fall like weather has come to the area, Black Bears are scurrying to fatten up for the hibernation season. This has increased the number of sightings by cabin rental owners and guests throughout the Tennessee Smoky Mountains region.
If you plan to visit the Smokies soon, keep aware of your surroundings and keep trash and food unavailable. Many cabin rental companies provide bear proof trash containers.
Taking pictures of these bears is best done at a great distance, with a telephoto lens if possible. Black Bears seem very friendly and not very threatening, this is a big miconseption made by many an unsuspecting guest to the Smokies.
Black Bears are notorious for working their way into cars when they think there’s the slightest possibility of finding food. Have seen videos taken in the Smokies where a cracked window is easily broken by a bear. The photo to your right was taken by our local photographer Dean Brown. Dean had only been out of his vehicle long enough to carry some equipment into a rental cabin. When he returned, to close his car’s hatch, he found mama bear and her cubs making light work out of his valuable equipment.
Beware - Mama bear with baby cubs will turn on anyone at any time. It may be tempting to get a few feet from these bears to get that ultimate photo or you may feel bears are slow and you’re fast, best not to try those theories out. Mama bear will surprise you when it comes to protecting her cubs, your presence in her space is enough reason to attack.
Should you come upon a Black Bear while in the Smoky Mountains and feel you can not escape from the bear, make plenty of loud noises. If you have a stick or other objects in your hand, use them to make your presence appear bigger and more menacing.
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