Pisgah National Forest and the Birthplace of Forestry. Never run away from a bear back away slowly and make lots of noise. Get into a vehicle or a secure building. Lake proponents argued that turning Cades Cove into a body of water would promote tourism (photo by Patrick Jennings/stock.adobe.com), Puy du Fou is coming to the Smokies as part of the Exit 407 development. Asheville, NC, June 10, 2021 Hikers along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are asked to take precautions to avoid bears after recent reports of increased encounters. The trail remains open to hiking, but camping is not allowed from Grassy Fork Road, mile marker 245, to Max Patch Road, mile marker 253, including the Groundhog Creek Shelter. Park officials will honor existing reservations during this period at other Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds or at Mount Pisgah for dates after July 1, 2021. More info athttps://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD921040, Forest Supervisor's Office State wildlife regulators say bears are increasing in numbers in western North Carolina. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. If you were very lucky, youd see a bear or a momma and its cubs from a safe distance while driving the loop at Cades Cove. You have permission to edit this article. When storing food be sure to store it 100 yards or more away from campsites. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock The average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds. Howard doesnt think its pushing bears out of their habitat. Never store food & scented items in your tent, including toothpaste, deodorant, beverages, or snacks. She says shes never had a negative interaction with a bear in the forest. Do not burn food scraps or trash in your fire ring or grill. Black bears are wild and must be treated with respect. Also this year, the Citizen-Times reported that some campgrounds were closed due to bear activity in the Pisgah National Forest near the Appalachian Trail. We don't want to decrease the bear population. But still, it was a tad bit scary. Still, seeing bears in everyday life is becoming more common, which can be increasingly dangerous for both humans and bears. Keep your dog on a leash in areas where bears are reported. Our office operations have changeddue to COVID-19. The National Park Service (NPS) lists the following average number of injuries within the park each year: Read Also: The real story: Smoky Mountains National Park not the most dangerous. The couple was having a picnic on a grassy hill near the Folk Art Center, when they were alerted to a bear by their dog, NPS officials said in a news release. Properly store food and scented items like toothpaste by using a bear-proof container. Playing dead is not appropriate. As development and tourism increase in western North Carolina, human encounters with black bears are becoming more frequent. connected to the .gov website. The girl suffered head injuries and lost a lot of blood. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it and act aggressively. Bears are opportunists by nature. Attacks by bears are rare, but not unheard of. In September 2021, a couple was injured by a bear along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, the National Park Service reports. Bear sightings, while infrequent,are more common in spring. The gorge is formed by the Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the west and is bisected by the Linville River which drops 2,000 feet into the valleys below. ( I think I was in shock. We are always working to improve this website for our users. For more info, see our Waterfalls and Hiking Safety Tips. To avoid bear attacks, experts recommend the following: I was unloading our souvenirs from my jeep into our rental cabin in Gatlinburg. Keep your dog on a leash in areas where bears are reported. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills or other areas of your campsite. In summer 2021, due to black bear activity, the Forest Service banned camping for weeks along an eight-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Pisgah. On the Grandfather Ranger District, bears have also been active at Table Rock and the Old Fort Picnic Area. , We saw one once at the picnic area at the Cove, a big one. In it, Russell plays a mother who must find her runaway daughter in a national park . Mars Hill, NC, July 1, 2021 The Pisgah National Forest is implementing new restrictions at Max Patch designed to reduce impacts to natural resources and protect public health and safety. In the wild, they will feed on whatever is readily available. the forest service said in a news release. Hikers should use bear canisters to store food and all other scented items. No injuries have been reported. Original Release: Playing dead is not appropriate. If the food becomes scarce, this can lead to aggression. A Montana camper injured during a bear attack Saturday was rescued after receiving help from a jogger. Attacks by black bears are extremely rare. My husband was lil ways behind me & he stopped. A Black Bear is looking out of a Forest in Canada, Photo of black bear by heckepics courtesy of Getty Images. Never approach a bear or other wild animal. I hear it a lot: Oh, we're taking their habitat. They seem to adapt quite well to living around us. Park rangers and wildlife biologists are responding to the area and will attempt to disassociate this bear from human food rewards so all camping can resume. Clint Turnage, USDA May 18: Surveyor Mauled in Alaska An Alaska surveyor survived a brutal. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock According to bear hunting data provided by the commission, the 2020 harvest, as its called, was 3,748 statewide. Do not burn food scraps or trash in your fire ring or grill, Published in Latest News and Public Service Announcements, Your email address will not be published. While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities. Asheville, NC, June 10, 2021Hikers along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are asked to take precautions to avoid bears after recent reports of increased encounters. About the time he got ready to toss in the bags, the bear popped up and growled. At any rate, I started banging on the side of my jeep with my open hand and yelling at him as loud as I could. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. For more tips, visit But most visitors dont come from areas where bears are common, so they dont always know what to do. Back away slowly in the opposite direction until the bear leaves. A lot of times they get reports of an aggressive bear, and the bear is simply walking in a particular direction. Have you had a black bear experience in the Smokies? For more tips, visit go towww.fs.usda.gov/nfsncand click on "Learn about Bear Safety,"orwww.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/bears. Mark Price has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1991, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. Editors note: Dont see how close you can get for pictures. Before you explore waterfalls and hiking trails in the North Carolina mountains, please see our below safety tips to help you in planning the perfect trip! Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by being BearWise and practicing these safety tips no matter where they are in the forest: Black bears are seldom aggressive, and attacks are rare. The report Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has once again shown its commitment to environmental stewardship by increasing its funding to $2,500 for the third year By Kristin Fox Next month, the Park It Forward Program will begin in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Some offices are closed to the public while others have limited hours or are open by appointment only. Please contact local offices by phone or email to find the current statusand how to get the services and information you need. If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together, or throwing rocks and sticks at it. Despite all the warning signs at the park, the trash cans and the parked cars often contain food, so they attract bears looking for an easy meal. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite. Low 58F. Camping in cars will be permitted during this time, and some tent sites may accommodate hard-sided campers. LockA locked padlock Based in the city of Asheville, they examine black bear movements via GPS collars to study activity patterns and food behavior. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD926241, https://bearwise.org/six-outdoor-bearwise-basics/, Cheoah RD: Prescribed Burn Planned in Graham County, Cheoah RD: NCDOT highway improvements will affect AT users, Croatan NF: Two Roads Closed for Visitor Safety and Maintenance, Cheoah RD: Fontana Loop Trail TR15, Portions of Bee Cove TR421 Temporarily Close, Camping and other restrictions now in effect at Max Patch, Nantahala RD: Old River Rd Temporarily Closed For Maintenance Beginning 3/1/23, Nantahala RD: Multiple areas under construction, Appalachian RD: NCDOT construction near Harmon Den may affect Forest access, Grandfather RD: Old House Gap Rd (FS192) temporarily closed, Target Shooting prohibited on Croatan National Forest. Feb. 24 (UPI) --The new movie Cocaine Bear, starring Keri Russell and directed by Elizabeth Banks, opens Friday. Last month, a bear was spotted in our very residential neighborhood in the middle of an East Tennessee town. Camping is temporarily prohibited along the trail in the Pisgah National Forest because of a bear with cubs . The campground, located near Milepost 408, has seen increasing bear activity in recent days. The Pisgah National Forest warns visitors to North Mills River, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and Black Balsam and surrounding areas on the Pisgah Ranger District to be on the look-out for black bears. . Backcountry users must use commercially-made canisters constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears. Only about 3/4 mi in we saw it on the trail path itself. Once a bear feeds off of garbage or litter, they are used to getting food from these sources. A bear came running up the mountain street and startled me a bit as he passed. Associated Press Mon 19 Apr 2021 21.30 EDT Last modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.35 EDT A Montana backcountry guide has died after he was mauled by a large grizzly bear that was probably. Bears are taking down bear bags hanging from trees and riffling through camping supplies and gear. If you ever see bear cubs, get out of the area immediately. Always lock up your trash and do not litter. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/alerts-notices/?aid=66454, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD921040, Cheoah RD: Prescribed Burn Planned in Graham County, Cheoah RD: NCDOT highway improvements will affect AT users, Croatan NF: Two Roads Closed for Visitor Safety and Maintenance, Cheoah RD: Fontana Loop Trail TR15, Portions of Bee Cove TR421 Temporarily Close, Camping and other restrictions now in effect at Max Patch, Nantahala RD: Old River Rd Temporarily Closed For Maintenance Beginning 3/1/23, Nantahala RD: Multiple areas under construction, Appalachian RD: NCDOT construction near Harmon Den may affect Forest access, Grandfather RD: Old House Gap Rd (FS192) temporarily closed, Target Shooting prohibited on Croatan National Forest. Dont run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. By Lightning Reports, Published: June 26, 2021 Hikers along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are asked to take precautions to avoid bears after recent reports of increased encounters. Official websites use .gov A .gov We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. North Carolinas most recent bear-attack fatality was a 2020 incident involved an Illinois man killed while camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, McClatchy News reported. to www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc and click on Learn about Bear Safety., Do not store food in tents. The predators are relentless, too, and will often stay in the area of the incident for multiple hours, the Forest Service says. I had read not to run, and so I slowly backed away & moved to the side of the path. 2023 Child Fatality Task Force report shows increase in child gun deaths, youth suicide, Jackson County TDA increases funding to $2,500 for third year of Cleaning Up the Mountains, Swain leaders voice continued opposition to parking passes in GSMNP, NC revenue forecast projects $3.25 billion surplus, 10.7% revenue increase for Fiscal Year 2022-23, From AMC CEO Clint Kendall: February is a time to strengthen our hearts literally and figuratively, Rabun Gap girls basketball brings home second-straight NCISAA state title, Macon leaders withdraw plans to move forward with Highlands PreK renovations, Lifelong educator and author honored in Jackson County with special day, Safe Surrender law passed in 2001 after babys body in Macon landfill could soon be changed, More posts in Public Service Announcements , NCDOT urges safety around railroad tracks, Civil trial for 2018 death of Scott Knibbs continues this week, New bridge construction starting in Macon County, Comprehensive list of community groups/workshops/meetings in WNC, Thanksgiving Safety Campaign has simple message: Buckle Up. A brown bear attacked a group of campers, eating one and forcing the others to flee barefoot into the mountains. In a five-month period during 2021 in western North Carolina, there were at least nine reports of bears breaking into multiple homes in several different towns, including several homes where the residents were present, she said. The bear has been lingering among campers and has been deemed a safety threat. Retirement communities have sprouted up throughout the area, fueled by affordable land prices and the temperate climate. Of the total, 1,429 bears were killed in the Mountain Bear Management area, which includes western North Carolina, the second-highest harvest there on record. 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