Great Smoky Mountains warns on bear viewing

LeConte Lodge published an online advisory on June 2 reminding visitors that American black bears are a routine part of the Great Smoky Mountains experience and that sightings should be handled with care. The lodge said visitors should not crowd or feed bears and should keep their distance on trails and at overlooks. The post comes as summer visitation builds in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where black bear encounters are common. National Park Service guidance echoes the warning, saying bears can be active anywhere in the park and that visitors should be ready to respond appropriately. ### Why did LeConte Lodge put out the reminder now? LeConte Lodge dated its post June 2 and framed it as a seasonal safety message for people heading into the Smokies during a busy travel period. The lodge said seeing a black bear can be memorable, but should never lead visitors to change a bear’s behavior by approaching it, feeding it or gathering too closely around it. (lecontelodge.com) Great Smoky Mountains National Park has also issued recent bear warnings this spring. On April 20, park rangers said they responded to three bear-related incidents at Ramsey Cascades Trail and three more on Abrams Falls Trail, including cases in which a bear approached visitors, took backpacks and briefly chased a group. (lecontelodge.com) ### How common are bears in the Smokies? Great Smoky Mountains National Park says the park is home to more than 1,900 black bears, which it describes as the densest black bear population in North America. The park says bears inhabit all elevations and can be found anywhere in the park. The National Park Service says the combination of a large bear population and heavy visitation raises the chance of encounters. (nps.gov) Over the last 10 years, the park has recorded an average of 339 negative human-bear encounters annually, with more believed to go unreported. ### What are visitors being told to do if they see one? LeConte Lodge told hikers and sightseers to stay alert, give bears space and avoid actions that draw animals closer. (nps.gov) The lodge also advised visitors to carry bear-aware supplies and report sightings or concerning behavior. The National Park Service says people should never approach a bear or allow it to approach them. (nps.gov) Park guidance says visitors should stay calm, back away to maintain distance, and avoid feeding wildlife or leaving food out, because even one food reward can make a bear more dependent on people. ### How close is too close? Great Smoky Mountains National Park says willfully approaching within 50 yards, or 150 feet, of a bear is illegal if it disturbs or displaces the animal. (lecontelodge.com) The park says violations can lead to fines and arrest. The same 50-yard rule appears across park safety material for wildlife viewing. The National Park Service says that distance protects both visitors and the animals and helps reduce the chance of conflict. (nps.gov) ### Where should hikers look before heading out? The National Park Service maintains a current cautions and closures page that lists bear closures and bear warnings across trails, shelters and campsites. (nps.gov) As of June 3, that page showed no trail closures due to bears, but it listed bear warnings for Abrams Falls Trail and Ramsey Cascades Trail. The park also says visitors should report unusual bear behavior as soon as possible and call 865-436-1230 for significant incidents, or 911 in an emergency. (nps.gov) For hikers planning a trip now, the next stop is the park’s current updates page and the black bear safety guidance posted by LeConte Lodge. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2)