Response: DO NOT play dead! We at My Smoky Mountain Guide want you to have a wonderful vacation right here in our backyard, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. More specifically, you may need a pepper spray made for deterring bears. You should be able to use your spray on auto-pilot during a grizzly bear encounter. DO NOT play dead, run, climb a tree, or leave food behind. Use your hiking stick to intimidate the bear and move to higher ground by backing away. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. What to do if you encounter a black bear. "You'll be fortunate because they are shy and timid animals. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and NEVER get within 50 yards of a bear. Stay calm: Walk slowly and speak in a loud and calm voice. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Federal law restricts which types of sprays can be used in a national park, so we recommend the following brands approved by the EPA for use in the. As you increase your distance, the bear will most likely do the same. Every bear encounter must be met with caution. Since the founding of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1900’s, only one death is attributed to a black bear inside the park. This holds true for black bears. If you’re dealing with a black bear, fighting back might be your best option. RELATED: The Best Place to Spot Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains. Meaning: This behavior communicates that the bear believes you are too close and it feels threatened and afraid. If it gets too close, use your pepper spray*. Even so, the Boy Scouts’ motto, “Be Prepared”, is timeless advice. Close encounters of the bear kind. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. If you do see a bear in your yard, bang pots and pans or blow a loud whistle, he said. The key to staying safe is knowing ahead of time what to do if, and when, you see a bear. Remove the safety tag. • Talk to the bear in a calm voice. The above links take you to Amazon.com where you may purchase these items if you are so inclined. "Even if we're quiet in the woods, we're not that quiet," Madden said. The average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds. Let’s begin by stating that federal law forbids anyone from “willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear.” The fine is a hefty $5,000 and six months in jail. When you’re trying to scare off a charging bear, bear spray almost always does the trick. For details, please read our Front Page News post. Here is what to do if you run into a cougar, black bear, or grizzly bear in B.C. If a bear is sighted in town, leave the animal alone. Differences Between Black Bears and Grizzly Bears. If that doesn’t work, a specially formulated pepper spray for bears will likely do the trick. Leave slowly: Cautiously back away from the bear and leave the area. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. Black bears are large, strong wild animals that should be treated with respect and appreciated from a distance to ensure your safety as well as the bear’s. It is now the bear’s food. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees.⁣⁣ Do not push down a slower friend (even if you think the friendship has run its course)," the NPS added. ; Don't: Approach, surround, or corner a bear: Bears aggressively defend themselves when they feel threatened. Despite their size, black bears are very agile tree climbers. If you encounter a bear on the trail, or in your campsite, stop what you are doing and evaluate the situation. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or … Climb a Tree: Grizzly bears aren’t as good of climbers as black bears, so one option is to climb a tree – though this is no guarantee that the bear won’t follow you up the tree. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face. The above suggestions DO NOT guarantee your safety during a bear encounter. In addition, state laws may apply. Avoid direct eye contact. How to Use Bear Spray. Remove the safety tag. Black bear attacks in the park are extremely rare, but they do happen. Having black bears around is not an immediate threat, and like all wild animals, black bears should be treated with respect and given space. In case of a charging bear, spray when it is 30-60 feet (10-20 meters) away. AWESOME! If the bear is cornered, back off slowly to give it room to escape. If so, you may find the following suggestions helpful if you are ever confronted by a black bear in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. DON’T approach a bear. Meaning: It is obvious; the bear wants your food. Try to appear large by holding up your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump. A more curious bear may stand on its hind legs to see you better, but this is not necessarily aggressive behavior. We do not want to contribute to an unhealthy fear of bears, but apparently this is not the problem. A pair of black bear cubs sitting in a tree. Do not turn and run. It is demanding more space from you. Scenario: A bear is looking at you, making loud noises, and/or swatting the ground. DON’T climb trees to escape a bear. Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. Several bear pepper sprays are on the market. Vacationers get so excited about seeing a bear that they forget that these creatures can, and will, kill if they feel threatened. Walk, don’t run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see … In general, when you encounter a black bear you should: Remain calm. From 1900 to 2015, only 64 people were killed by black bears in all of North America, mostly in Canada and Alaska. Finally, if there is physical contact, Forbes says the best advice is … Fight back with every resource you have; use rocks, sticks, a hiking pole, anything. According to one bear researcher, you are more likely to be killed by a domestic dog, bees, or lightning than you are a black bear. Fight back if you're being attacked. It is not making any noise or swatting the ground with its paws. Black bears have much larger ears than grizzly bears and do not have the same hump at the base of their necks that grizzly bears have. For the most part, they coexist without incident. Back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Bear encounters in the woods are relatively infrequent, Madden said, as bears want to avoid people more than we want to avoid them. Loud noises scare most animals, causing them to run for cover. While these bears may be “cute,” it’s important to remember that they are wild … Walk, do not run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it reacts. More often than not, they will give up and leave. Keep dogs under control. The National Park Service announced that the park will re-open in phases beginning May 9, 2020. If you have bear spray, remove the safety, and be ready to use it if the bear approaches you. Your vacation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park might include hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, bird watching, or some other outdoor activity. Your IP: 91.121.79.58 A black bear was seen in Joelton, in northwest Davidson County, on Aug. 15.What's believed to be the same bear was spotted Saturday, Aug. 25, in … Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. If a black bear (or any bear that is stalking you) makes contact. “Being prepared” means you need the proper safety tools. It is your first line of defense, along with throwing rocks and sticks. [Like] any wild animal, black bears need to be respected." Bear attacks are split-second events. We want your Smokies vacation to be the best ever! Wild, powerful, and unpredictable, bears and cougars pose a substantial threat to people. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. Black bears tend to be more timid than … Our goal is to provide valuable, proven information for you and your safety. Heintooga Picnic Area at Balsam Mountain, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – Auto Tour, Three Big Reasons You Should Not Feed Bears, The Best Place to Spot Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains, UDAP 18HP Super Magnum Bear Spray 13.4 oz, Frontiersman Bear Spray w/Hip Holster-Max Strength & Range-35 ft-9.2 oz, The Best Place to See Black Bears in the Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: My Smoky Mountain Guide, *Bear Pepper Spray: If noise doesn’t work, you may need to take accelerated measures. Black bears are dangerous and unpredictable wild animals. Response: Back away slowly from the food and give the bear plenty of room. The black bear is a wonderful part of their experience. Identify yourself by speaking in a calm, appeasing tone. Here are several small tools we believe may make a difference in your safety. Use noise to scare bears away: Yell, clap, or bang pots immediately upon sighting a bear near your campsite. Black Bears: If you are attacked by a black bear, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Because bears are becoming more active during this time of year, chances of an outdoor encounter increase. DON’T run from a bear. Typically a bear is more afraid of humans. Response: Slowly back away while facing the bear. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Clap your hands. If it is a black bear, the best course of action is to try to escape, but if that isn't possible you should fight back. If the bear gets close, strike it in the nose and face with your fists, a stick, rocks, or just about anything else you can get your hands on. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. If you store recyclables outside, use enclosed bins. Blow your sound horn or whistle. Use the pepper spray, blow your whistle. IMPORTANT: Black bears are wild animals and their behavior can be unpredictable. Continue spraying until … Do not approach bears or allow them to approach you. Cloudflare Ray ID: 60f179021de2fa5c Because it's highly unlikely it's a predatory bear (see below), you have little to worry about. While planning your vacation to the Smokies, you probably will book a campsite, cabin, or hotel, choose which live shows you want to see in nearby cities, and determine which zip line or riding stable has the best deals. Scenario 2: You see a bear and the bear sees you (but at a distance) Again, if you are being aware of your surroundings and encounter a bear there's a chance you'll both notice each other from a distance. Bears are magnificent creatures and it can be exciting to see one—from an appropriate distance. Ensure the bear has an escape route. Attempt to scare the bear off by making noise, such as banging pots and pans, shouting or using an air horn or whistle. Whether you are a seasoned backpacker, an avid hiker, a wildlife photographer, or an afternoon picnicker, you never consider leaving home without the supplies you need. If you ever see bear cubs, get out of the area immediately. Meaning: The bear has determined that you are a threat and needs to defend itself or it sees you as prey. Do not climb a tree. As of 2016, more than 11 million people and 1,600 black bears share the park each year. Make as much noise as possible and fight like crazy. All of this fun will be carried out in the great outdoors, where you will share space with a multitude of wild animals! Gary Carter Photo. However, be sure you are not doing anything to attract the bear to your yard. “Being safe” is knowing how and when to use them. If you encounter a grizzly, do not run. In a bear’s mind, just getting close to them may be considered aggressive behavior. "If you encounter a black bear, consider yourself very lucky," Norcott told The Dodo. Bears in the Smokies. Mama bears are very protective. Sticks or other objects can be used to make yourself look bigger, while yelling and being loud can intimidate or scare off a black bear. Any Smoky Mountains outdoor adventure should include safety equipment. While this behavior is not threatening, it could lead to it. The best way to handle a bear encounter is never to have one. At a campsite Bears have a very good sense of smell and hearing. Understanding the difference between black bears and grizzlies can help determine how you will act if you encounter them. Black bear playing in a puddle in Yellowstone National Park | Shutterstock In most black bear encounters in California, the bear will take off as soon as it sees you. DNR recommends taking the following actions if you encounter a bear: Remain calm. Bears do injure people, but only one person died because of a black bear attack inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Make noise; a lot of noise. If you see a black bear in your yard, enjoy the sighting from a distance and report your sighting. Spray when a curious bear is 25-30 feet (8-10 meters) away. Bears like thick brush, berry patches and parsnip thickets, but also regularly use hiking trails. Luckily, encounters between these animals and humans are low. Recycle wisely. You may not know you are approaching a bear until it is too late. Copyright 2016-2020 Marc & Ann Bowman | All Rights Reserved | Powered by, 9. If the bear walks toward you, act boldly, yelling and throwing something at it. What to Do If You Encounter a Black Bear. After all, they believe you are encroaching on their environment, not the other way around. However, speaking as someone who sucks at climbing trees, this doesn’t seem like a good option. During times of danger or threat, bear cubs will take shelter in trees. Is necessary take off as soon as it sees you as prey food behind Remain calm calm. 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