The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is home to an abundant population of black bears, representing one of the largest protected wilderness habitats for the species in the Eastern United States. The only bear species present in the Smokies is the American black bear (Ursus americanus); there are no grizzly or brown bears. Visitors must be aware of their behavior and follow safety guidelines.
Black Bear Population and Habitat in the Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sustains a dense population of black bears, estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,900 individuals. This population size results in a density of approximately two bears per square mile across the park’s entire range. Black bears inhabit all elevations within the GSMNP, meaning they can be encountered anywhere from the lower valleys near Gatlinburg to the highest mountain peaks.
These omnivores forage for a diet consisting primarily of plant materials, such as berries and nuts, which make up about 85% of their intake. Bears are most active during the spring and summer months, particularly in the early morning and late evening hours. As cold weather approaches, they seek out denning sites, which are often hollow stumps or tree cavities, sometimes located high above the ground in standing hollow trees. They enter a long period of sleep during winter, but they are not true hibernators and may occasionally leave their dens during brief warming trends.
Essential Rules for Preventing Bear Encounters
Preventing an encounter requires proper management of all food and scented items, as a bear’s sense of smell is highly developed. Any item with an odor, including toothpaste, garbage, and pet food, should never be left unattended outside a vehicle or secure container. All food and trash in backcountry campsites must be secured using bear-proof canisters or by properly hanging it from the provided food storage cables.
Never feeding a bear is the single most important rule for the safety of both humans and wildlife. When bears associate humans with an easy meal, they lose their natural fear, a process known as habituation. A habituated bear often becomes a “nuisance bear,” and park regulations require that bears reliant on human food must be euthanized. The park service emphasizes that a fed bear is essentially a dead bear.
When hiking, travel in groups is advisable, as the noise and size often alert bears to human presence, giving them time to move away. Hikers should make noise by talking or clapping periodically, especially when moving through dense cover or around blind corners. Willfully approaching a bear within 50 yards (150 feet) is illegal within the park, as it disturbs the animal and can lead to dangerous situations.
Protocol for Direct Bear Encounters
If a bear is spotted in the distance and continues its natural behavior, remain watchful. If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior—such as stopping its feeding or altering its direction of travel—you are too close and must slowly increase your distance. The response protocol changes if a bear actively approaches or charges you.
In a direct encounter, never run, as this can trigger a chase response; black bears can run up to 30 miles per hour. Instead, stand your ground, speak in a firm voice, and slowly back away while facing the bear. Make yourself look as large as possible by raising your arms or standing on a log, a technique known as hazing.
If the bear continues to approach or charges you, you must fight back aggressively with any available object, such as a rock, stick, or backpack. This is considered a predatory encounter for black bears. Unlike with grizzly bears, playing dead is not recommended. If you are carrying bear spray, deploy it when the bear is within 20 yards to defend yourself.