Bears info...

[JohnC]

I'm not too sure the timing of YouTube videos is very meaningful. Most of them aren't very current. But I will say that as we head towards fall the bears are all working hard at finding food sources to help fatten themselves up for hibernation. But you should always be alert any time you are in bear country. Accidental encounters can sometimes be the most deadly. Be prepared.

I love animals of all kinds. But an unleashed dog in bear country is risking far more than just the dog, which is already bad enough. Please be responsible with your pets on vacation.

 

[taranis17]

I'm not too sure the timing of YouTube videos is very meaningful. Most of them aren't very current. But I will say that as we head towards fall the bears are all working hard at finding food sources to help fatten themselves up for hibernation. But you should always be alert any time you are in bear country. Accidental encounters can sometimes be the most deadly. Be prepared.

I love animals of all kinds. But an unleashed dog in bear country is risking far more than just the dog, which is already bad enough. Please be responsible with your pets on vacation.

To add to this: Saw a video making the rounds on the news awhile back showing a young grizzly and a woman with her leashed dog. The bear was uncertain, but clearly not going after the human - the bear wanted the dog and (thankfully) didn't figure out that it could just go through the human to get it. No deterrent on her, of course - and she was filming, but her yelling and waving while pulling her dog away from it finally convinced the bear to move on.

Two seasons to be especially watchful of - spring, when they're just out of hibernation and starving (especially if there are cubs!) and fall, but anytime you're out hiking in the mountains with the pup, two things are an absolute - a good 6 ft leash and bear spray.

 

[Justin Campbell]

We went to the Smoky Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage this spring. It’s a Wed-Sun event with classes and corresponding hikes on everything from native wildflowers to mosses to lichens to bats and yes bears. We had two bear biologists that taught that session that were very familiar with all things bears in the Smokies. Lots of facts and figures. But they said the bear population has ballooned in the Smokies to an unsustainable level which is why you are seeing so many bears coming into Gatlinburg looking for food. The natural sources such as acorns aren’t enough to support the population at the level it is at currently. Apparently lots of debate as to what to do about it. But there is apparently a bad form of mange in bears headed towards the Smokies that has a 50% mortality rate. So they are going to let that hit untreated and let nature take its course and naturally thin the herd. Was very interesting session. And then we did the Cades Cove loop as a class and saw 21 bears. Two separate moms with triplet cubs and one set of twins!!

If you’ve never heard of the Wildflower Pilgrimage and you like that sort of thing then it’s definitely worth looking up. We plan to be regulars. I think last year was the 76th year they’d done it. But very low cost and absolute fascinating way to spend a few VL days. Had folks from all over the US and several people had come down from Alaska for it.

 

[The Postman]

We went to the Smoky Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage this spring. It’s a Wed-Sun event with classes and corresponding hikes on everything from native wildflowers to mosses to lichens to bats and yes bears. We had two bear biologists that taught that session that were very familiar with all things bears in the Smokies. Lots of facts and figures. But they said the bear population has ballooned in the Smokies to an unsustainable level which is why you are seeing so many bears coming into Gatlinburg looking for food. The natural sources such as acorns aren’t enough to support the population at the level it is at currently. Apparently lots of debate as to what to do about it. But there is apparently a bad form of mange in bears headed towards the Smokies that has a 50% mortality rate. So they are going to let that hit untreated and let nature take its course and naturally thin the herd. Was very interesting session. And then we did the Cades Cove loop as a class and saw 21 bears. Two separate moms with triplet cubs and one set of twins!!

If you’ve never heard of the Wildflower Pilgrimage and you like that sort of thing then it’s definitely worth looking up. We plan to be regulars. I think last year was the 76th year they’d done it. But very low cost and absolute fascinating way to spend a few VL days. Had folks from all over the US and several people had come down from Alaska for it.

Looks like fun, great tip!

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a 68-year old annual event in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park featuring professionally-guided walks to explore the region's rich natural and cultural resources.

www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org

Bookmarked for future reference...