Bears in the Smokies

JPEG image, 46904 bytes

This is a mother bear and two cubs along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail in the Smokies. I have seen more bears here than anywhere else in the area, at least nine in all.

JPEG image, 34669 bytes

Bears on the road can bring traffic to a standstill in the smokies. The mother bear is teaching her cubs some bad habits about how to interact with humans.

When camping in the smokies, it is important to protect food from bears by hanging it in a bear bag, or putting it in one of the metal bear boxes at some campsites. I once had a bear carry my pack away while I stopped to eat lunch along the Appalachian Trail, near Siler's Bald. Fortunately, I got it back - undamaged but very wet.

Great Smoky Mountains