Mammals

Mammals make up one of the most well loved, most sought after animal groups in the park. From 700 pound elk to the pygmy shrew which weighs less than a dime, the mammals of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park are varied and amazing. There are 66 species of mammal in the Smokies and they represent eighteen different families from carnivores to insectivores. People come to the park to look for certain animals like deer and bear but all of the mammals of the park are exciting to see in their natural habitat.

You can expect to see white-tail deer roaming the park in groups and you can expect to see black bear depending on the time of the year and the time of day. You will have to look hard to find some of the more reclusive animals like the various foxes, coyote and bobcats. Of course, when you see these animals it is always a treat. A lot of the mammals in the park are nocturnal and you will catch them only at dusk or later as they start to come out of their dens and look for food.

Reintroduction of Formerly Native Species
There are many species that have either been hunted out of existence in the park or have been displaced by human encroachment. Amongst these mammals are gray wolves, bison, mountain lion, red wolf, otter and elk. While some of these animals will never be brought back to the National park, the Park Service has reintroduced the elk and river otter successfully. The Elk can be seen mostly in the Cataloochee area in North Carolina. The river Otter have also been very successfully bu they are much harder to find. Look around larger streams in the park. The red wolf was reintroduced but that reintroduction was not successful due to reproduction and pup mortality rates. The red wolves that survived have been removed back to a better habitat in North Carolina near the Outer Banks.

Non-Native Species
The most well known and seldom seen non-native species is the european wild hog. In 1920 about 100 boars escaped from a preserve in Murphy, NC. These escapees bred with existing hogs in the area and their presence has grown in the park ever since. Males average close to 200 pounds and they can be seen during the day or night at virtually any time. They are aggressive wild animals and it is best to keep your distance if you see one in the wild.