Black Bear Encounters in Smokies

imported
#1

When Jen and I were in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park for our honeymoon last year we drove over to Cades Cove to hike the trail that launches from that proximity. Upon arrival we stopped by the Baptist Church there where we were greeted by a Black Bear Mother and her Cub. She had already treed her cub and was approx. 200ft away near the church. She was surrounded by tourists snapping photos and the like and Jen and I looked ver at the tree where her cub was and it was surrounded by tourists as well. These people were getting incredibly close to this animal totally encircling her. It was nuts. We didnt even get out of the car but we snapped a picture.
The particular area where the Black Bear and her Cub that attacked and killed the lady in the Smokies was the Elkmont area on a side trail off the AT. We were on that exact trail only months before the attack.
We had camped in Elkmont campground and hiked all the trails in that section of the park.
Theres one particular trail that soon after we began hiking thru alot of Rhodedendron we came across what appeared to be a bear nest. They make these during the summer to sleep. Droppings were around and across the stream were several caves, we assumed they were Bear lairs and vacated the trail quickly.
Cross

Cross

#2

Your description of the tourists was right on. Leaving the bears alone and undisturbed is the best thing to do.

And being bear aware is not only good policy, it is smart.

I carried a small radio from Radio Shack that had an external speaker so when I would hike in bear areas, it would be on sometimes a little loud thus making any bears on the trail aware of my presence. I would even whistle along with the tune on the radio to make it louder if I saw scat on the trail that was fresh.

When it comes to bears, it is always best to be bear aware.

Mr. Boo

#3

I was told, by a local, that Smokeys bears are afraid of dogs. Dogs are used to hunt bears outside of the park. So if you see a bear bark like a dog and it will run. I didn’t see any bear in the Smokies so I couldn’t see if it worked or not.
Grampie-N-> 2001

Grampie

#4

I forgot to mention that one of the things I learned on the trail from someone, though I did not have to use it, was not to look a bear in the eyes. They consider that a threat and might charge you.

Seems to make sense

Mr. Boo