The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the sole bear species inhabiting the forests surrounding Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Their primary habitat is the vast wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), which directly borders the town. The park’s healthy bear numbers mean many individuals live in close proximity to human development, creating a unique management situation at the edges of this busy tourist town.
Population Estimates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Biologists estimate that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park supports a robust population of American Black Bears. The current accepted range suggests approximately 1,500 to 1,900 bears reside within the park’s boundaries, representing one of the highest bear densities found in any protected area in North America.
This high density translates to an average of about two bears per square mile across the park’s 800 square miles. This concentration is a positive indicator of the health and stability of the ecosystem, allowing the population to thrive due to abundant natural food sources and extensive protected territory.
The population is consistently monitored to ensure its continued health. While the total number can fluctuate based on environmental factors like seasonal food availability, the overall trend points to a successfully managed, self-sustaining population that provides foundational data for conservation efforts.
Methods Used to Track and Monitor Bear Populations
Park biologists use a combination of non-invasive and remote techniques to arrive at population estimates. A modern method is DNA hair sampling, which allows for individual identification without physically capturing the animal. Researchers establish sites with a perimeter of barbed wire around a non-harmful bait; when a bear crosses the wire, strands of hair are snagged.
The collected hair samples are analyzed to determine the individual bear’s unique genetic profile. This non-invasive process functions as a high-tech mark-recapture study, where the number of unique individuals identified helps estimate the total population size and density using statistical models.
Traditional methods, often used in conjunction with DNA sampling, include radio telemetry and GPS collars. These devices are temporarily fitted onto captured bears to track their movements, home range size, and habitat use patterns.
Understanding Bear Presence in the Gatlinburg Area
While official population counts refer to the National Park, bears frequently venture into Gatlinburg because the town sits directly on the human-wildlife interface. Bears are highly opportunistic omnivores constantly seeking the path of least resistance for a calorie-rich meal, which draws them across the park boundary.
The primary attraction is readily available human-associated food resources, such as unsecured residential garbage, restaurant waste, and pet food left outdoors. When a bear successfully finds a meal near a home or business, it quickly learns to associate people with food, leading to habituation. A habituated bear loses its natural fear of humans and becomes a “nuisance bear.”
Local authorities, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the City of Gatlinburg, have implemented management strategies to curb this learned behavior. These actions include city ordinances mandating the use of animal-resistant dumpsters and garbage cans to eliminate the easy food reward. The common phrase “A fed bear is a dead bear” highlights the severity of this issue, as habituated bears often have a significantly reduced lifespan.
When bears become overly aggressive in seeking human food, they must often be removed from the population for public safety. Visitors and residents are strongly advised to never intentionally or accidentally feed a bear and to report all sightings of nuisance bears to local officials.