Most avid backcountry explorers know that feeding bears in the wild is irresponsible and dangerous. When bears get a taste of Cheetos or granola bars, they quickly become conditioned to human food, lose their fear of hikers, and start expecting more trail snacks. And when food-conditioned bears become aggressive they often must be relocated or euthanized.
Feeding bears is also illegal, punishable by up to $5,000 in fines or six months imprisonment. The National Park Service sent out a press release reminding us about all of this because rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are tired of visitors feeding bears. They responded to three incidents earlier this month, and one of those at Maloney Point resulted in a visitor receiving a citation for feeding a mother bear and her two cubs.
Great Smoky Mountains has a lot of American black bears—around 1,900— and a lot of visitors (12 million annually), so bear human interactions are not uncommon at the park. And now is a particularly important time to be vigilant, because, according to the release, “Currently, bear activity is especially high due to a scarcity of natural food sources combined with the stressors of peak breeding season. During this time, mother bears are also separating from their 18-month-old yearlings, leaving these young bears to navigate survival on their own for the first time. These inexperienced juveniles are more likely to wander into populated areas, increasing the risk of encounters with humans.”
So please don’t feed bears in the Smokies (or elsewhere), and if you visit the park anytime soon be mindful of these safety guidelines provided by the NPS.
- Never feed or approach bears. Stay at least 50 yards (150 feet) away. Violating this regulation can result in fines and arrest.
- Store food and trash securely. Keep all food, trash and scented items in a locked, hard-sided vehicle. In backcountry areas, use bear cables to hang food properly.
- Leave pets at home. Dogs can provoke defensive and predatory behavior in bears. Only two trails in the park allow dogs: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Be prepared and stay alert. Be aware of your surroundings, especially when hiking or camping. Always stay together when hiking in a group. Visitors may consider carrying bear spray. Predatory behavior, from bears, such as stalking has occurred in the park.
- Report violations and unusual bear behavior. If you see someone feeding or approaching a bear, or if you witness a bear acting unusually, report it to park authorities immediately: (865) 436-1230.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
