Black Bears

To many people, the American Black Bear is the symbol of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. In fact you will find the black bear used on official park merchandise more often than any other animal. The Park is both a home and a place of protection to these forest dwellers. It is estimated that the black bears in the park number more than 1500 which breaks down to about two bears per square mile. Like most of the animals in the National Park they have become used to having people around and they are normally very mild when they encounter people.

In the park, male bears weigh in at about 250 pounds while their female counterparts weighs in at a little over 100 pounds. Large male bears are generally six feet long and measure about three feet at the shoulder. During the fall, while preparing for the winter, bears may double their weight. Bears are omnivorous animals. The mast, vegetation produced by plants to feed animals, makes up 85% of the bears diet. The other fifteen are made up of insects, grubs and scavenged animal carcasses, or carrion, that provide a substantial part of the protein in the bears diet. You can usually find bears out looking for food during the early morning or the late evening.

Like most bears, black bears don't truly hibernate but they do "sleep" for long periods of time during the winter. Black bears in the Smokies choose their winter homes in hollow trees high above the ground and females will have one to four cubs in these dens, usually in January. These cubs, normally born in pairs, will remain with the mother for about eighteen months. During winter, if disturbed or if the weather warms up, black bears will come out of their dens for short periods of time.

Look Mom, a bear!

Keep in mind, that while you are in the park, you are in the bears house. Bears are wild animals and they may attack if provoked. Make sure to keep your distance. If the bear stops doing what it has been doing and takes an interest in you... then you are too close. If the bear starts acting aggressively then you should back away slowly and not turn your back on the bear. There are several things that you can do to avoid bear attacks. Firstly, keep your distance. Secondly, if you are camping in the park keep your food suspended in a bag in a tree this will help keep bears away from your campsite. Thirdly, If you have food out and a bear decids to come investigate your picnic, move away from the food. Keep in mind that these are wild animals and don't do anything to provoke them.

How can I help keep bears healthy?

The 'panhandler' bear is the bear that gives all other bears a bad name. The same as a dog that begs for table scraps, the panhandler will scrounge for food, perform tricks for food and raid campsites and garbage cans for food. Bears have a very evolved sense of smell and their appetite will lead them to human food as quickly as their natural sources of food. Part of the problem with bears eating human food is that they lose their fear of people. It also causes them to look for human food first and puts them in conflict with people more often. These panhandlers can cause property damage and may even attack. They don't live as long and as, they become more used to people, they become easier targets for illegal hunting. When you are in the park you can also help bears by making sure you dispose of your trash in proper 'bear proof' garbage cans. Make sure to get rid of all your waste when you leave a campsite or picnic area. Also, resist the temptation to feed the bears. Remember, first and foremost, you are a visitor in the bear's house. Treat their home like you would have someone treat yours.

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