On the Grandfather Ranger District, bears have also been active at Table Rock and the Old Fort Picnic Area. The purpose of these areas was to allow the bear populations in those areas to fill, and then of course, dispersing bears from those populations would populate surrounding areas, Howard explained. Bears are taking down bear bags hanging from trees and riffling through camping supplies and gear. A brown bear attacked a group of campers, eating one and forcing the others to flee barefoot into the mountains. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite. If you are attacked by a black bear, try to fight back using any object available. Typically a bear is more afraid of humans. You have permission to edit this article. According to bear hunting data provided by the commission, the 2020 harvest, as its called, was 3,748 statewide. While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. Reservation holders were contacted by park staff and through the online reservation system, recreation.gov. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. I do carry a firearm and was starting to consider if I should fire it into the hillside behind me to make some loud noise to hopefully frighten him off, but I consider that action to be an absolute last resort. On the Grandfather Ranger District, bears have also been active at Table Rock and the Old Fort Picnic Area. There have been at least six known attacks in the park, including a mauling of a 16-year-old in 2015 in the Hazel Creek area. 828-257-4200. connected to the .gov website. And very, very rarely, youd hear about a bear attack. If you notice a bear nearby, pack up your food and trash immediately and vacate the area as soon as possible. On the Grandfather Ranger District, bears have also been active at Table Rock and the Old Fort Picnic Area. The NPS offers the following tips if you encounter a bear: If the bear is at a distance, feeding or walking by, and notices you but continues its natural behavior, no action is needed on your part. 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or trash in your fire ring or grill, Published in Latest News and Public Service Announcements, Your email address will not be published. With so many remote areas in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests to explore, the U.S. Forest Service reminds visitors to practice simple steps to avoid black bear encounters. The couple drove to Mission Hospital where they were both treated for their injuries and released.. throwing rocks and sticks at it. If the food becomes scarce, this can lead to aggression. In June of 2021, a teenage girl was backcountry camping deep in the national forest when a bear attacked her as she slept in a hammock at night. Though rare, attacks on humans do occur, causing injuries or death. on official, secure websites. 160 Zillicoa St. Suite A Do not burn food scraps or trash in your fire ring or grill. July 14, 2021 3:31 PM Reports of aggressive bears have escalated this summer in mountains along the North Carolina-Tennessee state line, including a June 18 bear attack on a teen as she slept. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. Hikers should use bear canisters to store food and all other scented items. We immediately returned to the car and watched in safety as too many souls gambled to see how close they could get for pictures. Around 10 yards he finally turned and ran off back up the mountain road. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you ever see bear cubs, get out of the area immediately. If you notice a bear nearby, pack up your food and trash immediately and vacate the area as soon as possible. I was unloading our souvenirs from my jeep into our rental cabin in Gatlinburg. Never store food & scented items in your tent, including toothpaste, deodorant, beverages, or snacks. An official website of the ", Forest Supervisor's Office All food and food-related items should be stored at campsites in a hard-sided bear-resistant canister, or in the trunk of a vehicle, except when preparing and consuming food. I think I was in shock. 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. Hey Everybody! Thats the highest number since record-keeping began in 1976. The bears will often stay in the area of the incident for multiple hours and they have a large range that can extend several miles. Forest visitors have reported bears tearing down bear bags from trees, carrying off backpacks, spending hours near campsites and being unaffected by efforts to scare them away, the forest service said in a news release. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite. Haywood County Schools has new leaders at several All the worlds a stage, Shakespeare wrote, and Waynesville is Haywood Countys only municipal g David Green Edwards, 32, of Cherokee, was sentence www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/bears, All the worlds a stage: Broadcasting meetings a tough call for Waynesville, Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen, Cherokee man sentenced to 15 years for child sexual abuse. Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. 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. Death rates have risen every year since 2019. Public. Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing these additional safety tips: The large number of bear sightings and encounters in the past few years has led to required use of bear-proof canisters in the Shining Rock and Black Balsam areas. In June 2021, reports of aggressive bears led to a temporary ban on camping along the Appalachian Trail in the area, from Double Springs Shelter to Backbone Rock Side Trail. Act aggressively, yelling and waving your arms. Black bears look for food that campers and trail users bring on their trips. It's not the animals fault that the human is messing up their natural environment.. She backed back into her room, but if it would have been a child that could have been bad. Its was a nightmare scenario, and also an anomaly. The state Wildlife Resource Commission is considering a rule change to allow limited permit hunting in fall 2022 in sanctuaries in the Pisgah National Forest, Standing Indian and the Panthertown area in the Nantahala National Forest. When storing food be sure to store it 100 yards or more away from campsites. While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities. No injuries have been reported. Word of that bear prompted others to share sightings up and down our not particularly mountainous or wild portion of the region. 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. No injuries have been reported. Asheville, NC, June 25, 2021 Due to continued bear activity, camping is still prohibited along the Appalachian Trail in the Pisgah National Forest from Grassy Fork Road, mile marker 245, to Max Patch Road, mile marker 253. I was trapped between my jeep and the bear with nowhere to go and no way to back away and had enough sense about me to know I wasnt going to outrun him. They learn to come back for more. It is illegal in the national park to willfully approach a black bear within 50 yards or any distance that disturbs the bear. Lea is a retired Forest Service employee who served as an assistant ranger in the Pisgah National Forest district for many years, where he was in charge of the services wildlife program. Longtime hiker Rachel Huehls has lived near the town of Black Mountain for 20 years. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. Management said that the bear would walk around in the parking lot looking for food and to be careful. . Absolutely feel he was probably more after the bags I was unloading and looking for a free meal than anything else. All required permit applications for the 2021 Pisgah Productions race season are in and pending approval. The campground, located near Milepost 408, has seen increasing bear activity in recent days. 160 Zillicoa St. Suite A If you notice a bear nearby, pack up your food and trash immediately and vacate the area as soon as possible. Well, the bears have had to learn that people are everywhere, so a lot of times they don't pay people any attention. Keep your dog on a leash in areas where bears are reported. In fact, its so uncommon that it can be difficult to find many statistics on the subject. If you are attacked by a black bear, try to fight back using any object available. Dont run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. We decided to take a short hike on Bote Mtn trail. . 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. Throw non-food objects (such as rocks) at the bear. Associated Press. Act aggressively and intimidate the bear by yelling and waving your arms. In it, Russell plays a mother who must find her runaway daughter in a national park . Still, when I moved to East Tennessee, bear sightings were relatively rare. Never leave food or coolers unattended, even in developed picnic areas. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. New housing subdivisions are squeezing out green space in Buncombe and other counties. In July of 2021, another bear was causing trouble at the Paint Creek Campground in the Cherokee National Forest near Greeneville at the Tennessee-Carolina state line. If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together, or throwing rocks and sticks at it. More: Pisgah National Forest gains land on Roan Mountain, Appalachian Trail views protected The highest number of conflicts between humans and bears usually occur in May and June because. My cousin came out of her room and there he stood. The challenge of wildlife management is making sure that we keep our wildlife resources healthy and balanced with the habitat, Howard said, and balancing those needs with the needs of people.. In a case where a bear is found scavenging human remains, the bear is euthanized. An effort to trap the bear is the preferred course of action. North Carolina regulators are proposing to open three western bear sanctuaries to hunting. Sometimes youd hear about a bear startling a camper whod been a little loose with food security in the mountains. We feel comfortable at the densities that we have, but we do have certain specific areas, such as these areas, where we think we need to put a little bit more pressure on the number of bears.. I had read not to run, and so I slowly backed away & moved to the side of the path. Once he even climbed over the railing and came out onto the rooms walkways. Get into a vehicle or a secure building. Mama bears are very protective of her cubs. connected to the .gov website. NC The group was hiking through Russia's Ergaki national park when the . soon as possible. 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. And adult bears in North Carolina have no predators to keep their numbers in check other than hunting and car strikes, which, Howard says, are also increasing. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. A couple years ago, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort about two or three blocks from downtown Gatlinburg. Still, incidents do occur (photo by bettys4240/stock.adobe.com). The Wildlife Resources Commission is proposing to allow limited permit hunting in the sanctuaries, with permits drawn by lottery. This generates a lot of the revenue that pays their salaries.. ( 199 Hemphill Knob Rd Comment Black bears are wild and must be treated with respect. HELENA, Mont. Last month, a bear was spotted in our very residential neighborhood in the middle of an East Tennessee town. Pisgah National Forest and the Birthplace of Forestry. The predators are relentless, too, and will often stay in the area of the incident for multiple hours, the Forest Service says. Rangers killed the bear responsible for the attack. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing these additional safety tips: The large number of bear sightings and encounters in the past few years has led to required use of bear-proof canisters in the Shining Rock and Black Balsam areas. Enter to Win A 2-Night Stay + Spa Treatments at Omni Grove Park Inn, Appalachian Trail: North Carolina Day Hikes. Never run away from a bear-back away slowly and make lots of noise. While bear attacks are uncommon, incidents do occur. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. Camping is temporarily prohibited along the trail in the Pisgah National Forest because of a bear with cubscontinuously coming too close to campers with food. In particular, a young bear has established a pattern of entering occupied camp sites, coming too close to campers, and taking food from the sites. The average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds. Get into a vehicle or a secure building. Over the next several minutes, there were repeated attacks by the bear while the couple retreated with their dog to the safety of their vehicle. Hikers are strongly encouragedto use bear canisters to properly store food and other scented items such as toothpaste and deodorant. Get into a vehicle or a secure building. The family got the bear to . Bears are opportunists by nature. 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 The bear lost interest & ran back to the woods. We have more trouble adapting to living around them.. An official website of the Bears have proven that they can certainly live in highly developed areas, he said. According to Brad Howard, chief of the wildlife management division of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the sanctuaries were the brainchild of then-state bear biologist John Collins, who sought to create population reservoirs in large areas off-limits to hunting. website belongs to an official government organization in the In a June 19 news release, the Forest Service warned visitors to North Mills River, Bent Creek Experimental Forest near Asheville, as well as the Black Balsam and surrounding areas in the. Attacks by black bears are extremely rare. In June of 2021, a teenage girl was backcountry camping deep in the national forest when a bear attacked her as she slept in a hammock at night. Over time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food and may become more unpredictable and dangerous. 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. Chance of rain 90%. If a bear approaches, move away slowly; do not run. The hiker was experienced, and the attack was unprovoked. We dont plan to change that model. Hed been partially consumed by animals, presumably bears. Editors note: Dont see how close you can get for pictures. Bears have also been reported in other parts of the national forests including on the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest near Old NC 105 and in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness on the Nantahala National Forest. And that is often interpreted by somebody who's afraid of bears as aggressive behavior., Lea believes the WRCs move to open the sanctuaries and sell permits to hunt in them is an easy way to reward their clientele, the bear hunters., A lot of people believe wildlife agencies are there for animals, but their primary goal for some species is to produce a sustainable annual harvest that hunters can kill, Lea said. Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by being BearWise and practicing these safety tips: Black bears are seldom aggressive, and attacks are rare. Our bear management plan does call for us to take the necessary actions to try to stabilize our population, Howard said. 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. Illegal in the parking lot looking for food and other scented items such as toothpaste and deodorant short hike Bote... 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