Black Bear Information and Safety Tips for The Great Smoky Mountains and the National Park
Black bears are one of the most sought after residents of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas. The problem is while most human bear interactions are harmless serious injury or death can occur if a bear is provoked or if a deranged animal decides to attack even if unprovoked. While any encounter with a black bear in the Smokies can be dangerous or even deadly, day hikers and backpackers encounters may have an ever higher risk due to isolation from help and rescue and the lack of a substantial shelter to get away from the bear in case of attack.
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park has regulations prohibiting the feeding of their native black bears which are strictly enforced for a good reason FEEDING BEARS KILLS BEARS AND PUTS HUMANS AT RISK
Following these black bear safety suggestions can save your life and the lives of the Smoky Mountains favorite resident, the black bear.
What to do when you see a black bear in the wild:
1) Never feed or toss any food to a black bear or any wild animal in the park.
2) Keep children and pets under strict control and if possible bring them to safety inside a vehicle or indoors.
3) Keep the bear at as great a distance as possible. If the bear notices you and changes it behavior such as feeding or the direction in which it is moving, you are too close, back away slowly from the bear and make lots of noise. Never back a bear into a corner or surround it. Being to close to or threatening a black bear can cause the bear to exhibit aggressive behaviour such as you being rushed towards by the bear or the bear swatting the ground. The black bear may even make loud noises which are indications the bear needs more space so you should slowly back away from the bear and remember DO NOT RUN.
4) The majority of black bear related attacks to humans are minor and most black bear attacks on humans are a result of the bear attempting to get to peoples food. If it appears that a bear is interested in food you or anyone in your party has, let go of the food and slowly back away from the food and the bear.
5) A bear can run, climb or swim faster than any human can. If the backing away from the bear does not work and making as much noise as possible to intimidate the bear does not work, fight back using any objects you can find around you such as rocks, branches, etc. You should stand up large and wave your hands in the air and act aggressively. Playing dead is a last resort and may still allow serious injury to anyone doing so.
6) The Great Smoky Mountain National Park asks that you report any bear attacks or incidents to a park ranger at once.
Black Bear in a field in the Smoky Mountains Park. Bear proof trash cans be found throughout the Park.
Feeding bears directly or indirectly is the cause of most black bear problems in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas. Black bear encounters happen outside the National Park by people staying in campgrounds, cabins and chalets or even in picnic areas. Responsible "black bear proof" behavior is required at all times that in areas that black bears may be present.
Campgrounds and picnic areas offer the most challenge to bear proof since they are generally in more remote areas which may be in a black bears natural territory and the ever present enticement of food and other human belongings that may have an enticing scent to a black bear.
Special Campground and Picnic Area Black Bear Safety Rules:
1) Since we know that feeding of black bears leads to dangerous encounters with humans the first rule is to keep your campsite or picnic area free and clean of all food, scraps including fruit rinds and cores, paper and plastic bags that contained food and even aluminum foil since the scent of food is a strong attracter of black bears in the Smokies.
It is also a good rule to thoroughly clean plates, cups and silverware as soon as you are finished eating and to clean picnic tables and other eating surfaces immediately as well.
2) Do not leave any food, coolers or backpacks that contain food unattended. If it all possible stores these items inside your car, van or a hard sided camper.
3) Do not leave small children, pets or service animals alone and unattended. Since they are less threatening to a black bear than an adult human, this can be a accident waiting to happen.
Additional Black Bear Information:
- There are 1,800 black bears living in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park which is a population density of approximately 2 black bear per square mile. Black bears inhabit all areas and elevations of the park.
- Bear can run up to 30 miles per hour and are good tree climbers and can swim very well.
- Black bears in the park do not hibernate, but will sleep for very long periods and may leave their den during warming periods or if they are disturbed.
- Black bears generally make their den with the onset of cold weather. Smoky Mountain black bears are unusual as they will often den high above the ground in hollows of trees, but will also den in hollow tree stumps, or tree cavities or wherever they can find shelter.
- Black bears are most often seen in early morning or late evening.
- Both male and female black bears commonly have more than one mate and the most active mating occurs in July.
- A black bears natural diet normally consists of: 59% berries and acorns, 28% grasses and forbs, and 13% insects and other animals including carrion.
- During the winter sleep the mother bear gives birth to 1 to 4 black bear cubs with 2 cubs being the most common.
- When born black bear cubs weigh about 8 ounces and can weigh over 400 pounds when fully grown. Black Bears can grow up to 3 feet at the shoulder and 6 feet in length.
- Black bears that stay away from humans can live 12-15 years, but those who are acclimated to humans generally do not live past 7 years.
Non Human Threats to Black Bears of The Smokies:
The second most destructive force (after man) in the great smoky mountain national park is the European hog.
This non-native species causes widespread damage to the park's ecosystem by wallowing and rooting destroying vegetation some of which is endangered. The European hogs voracious appetite reduces natural food stocks such as acorns which directly effects the black bear and other native species that inhabit the park.
Wildlife biologists trap and shoot non-native hogs in order to keep their population in check thus reducing some of the damage caused by theses unwelcome visitors to the park. The park dopes not expect to be able to completely eradication of the European hog who can even attack humans.
Another unwelcome exotic species who can do great damage to the parks flora and fauna and ultimately the black bear is the Gypsy moth which is heading closer to the park every year.
Not only can this insect destroy many of oak trees it defoliates, the loss of oaks will hurt the black bears primary food source acorns as well as the black bears favorite denning spots in the dense old growth forests of the Smokies.
For humans and the bears safety it can not be stressed enough to keep food and garbage away from bears and if you see a Black Bear in the wild, get away to a safe distance.
