DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Bears in the Smokies

After our vacation out west last year, I wasn't too geeked about seeing much wildlife in the Smokies this year. Boy was I wrong. We saw 14 bears, 2 rattlesnakes, a bobcat and countless turkeys and deer. All but 2 of the bears were seen while we were on foot, not at a distance from the car. I almost stepped on one of the rattlesnakes...got a good pic of him rearing back and ready to strike. We stayed in a cabin for 7 days and tent camped for 5. We had a momma bear and 2 cubs walk right through the next campsite over from ours. On one of our hikes, we got within 3 feet of a bear in a berry patch before we knew he was there! He wasn't bothered by us at all, and we got some decent pics. The only disappointment was not getting a picture of a pileated woodpecker....we heard them but just couldn't catch a glimpse of one. Once I get the pics sorted out, I'll post a link to them.

Other than the hikes, we rafted, went on a crazy Hummer romp and my son ziplined. Much better vacation than I hoped for....especially since I did a reasonably good job of keeping the wife and kid out of the money traps in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg (We did go to a few shows and shopped a little).

It's not much of a drive and can be done on the cheap if anyone's interested.

Wow - that had to be awesome - seeing the bears......as close as 3 ft? Can be glad they weren't grizzlies I guess.

Nature is great - especially when you are in a position to see it and appreciate it.

glad you had a good trip.

i drove down to the indian casino in NC right after pegion forge down on 411 or whatever....good god i was stuck in so much freakin' traffic...but i did think about taking a vacation there in the future...i had no idea that place was so popular....

That's awesome!! we have been down four or five times and the only bears i have ever seen were the ones that were in the dumpster behind our hotel!! A beautiful place to go to vacation!

Funny you should mention this. I am in Gatlinburg right now. We saw a pretty large bear last night walking down the road near our hotel. It was so close I could hear its claws tapping the pavement as it walked.

I've been backpacking many times in the area, but I gave never seen a bear while on foot. I'm surprised you saw so many. What area were you in?

We were all over the north end of the park. I saw one in Cades Cove, one on the Little River trail (that's also where we saw the rattlesnakes), a possible cub on the Cucumber Gap trail, the really close one was on the Grotto Falls trail, the 3 in Elkmont campground, a huge boar ran in front of the van near Metcalf Bottoms, a sow with 3 cubs right in front of our cabin in Townsend and another sow with 2 cubs on the walk down from Clingman's Dome.

What trails have you backpacked? I had my heart set on doing the Goshen Prong trail from Clingman's Dome down to the campground in Elkmont, but it didn't work out due to the weather both times we drove up there.

Sound's like a great trip
I went fishing in Utah this spring and saw many elk,mule deer,
and antelope but only one beer.

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but only one beer.

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I would have had to at least see a couple of 6 packs.LOL

I hiked from twenty mile on up to Gregory Bald then along the AT for a while and went down one of the trails to the lakeshore trail and finished up at Bone Valley a coupla years ago. I've yet to hike the other side of the park though. I've also hiked in the Nantahala and Cherokee National forests a few times.

I've seen deer, boars, rattlesnakes, etc while backpacking but never a bear. So the bear you saw that was about 3 feet away was on Clingman's dome? Surprising since there are so many people up there all the time. Btw, we went there on Saturday. A little cloudy for us.

That sounds like a nice trek. Did you stay in the shelters or tent camp? I definitely want to do an overnighter or two the next time we go.

The bear that was 3 feet away was on the Grotto Falls trail. We were within about 30 yards from the bears on Clingman's...and it was in broad daylight with people around. One of the rangers told us that there's a bear population explosion in the park and with all the cubs we saw, I tend to believe him. We saw bears just about everywhere we went. I just hope people don't start getting stupid and feed them.

As soon as I get my pics ready and uploaded I'll post a link to them.

we live on the western slope of the Blue Ridge Mtns. near Charles Town WV.

There has been a bear or two in the neighborhood over the past few years and some pileated peckers are here right now.

What I don't like are the snakes.
We have copperheads and rattlers. This area has a high concentration of them too. The neighbor lady about 150 yards from here was bitten about 3 years ago in the foot. Almost died.

You can have your ******* snakes.

PS.
Did I mention the black widows?

Sounds fun, but I think I would like a little more distance between me and the bears and snakes!

If you want pics of pileated woodpecker, just come to my house. Two stopped by a few years ago and one flies by almost every morning to a neighbors tree. I can always hear them coming from a nearby nature preserve/wetland. Loud, aren't they!?

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Sounds fun, but I think I would like a little more distance between me and the bears and snakes!

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LOL, no thanks.
Worrying about bears and rattlesnakes while I'm camping doesn't sound like a great time. not for me, anyways....

Me no like killer animals.

Well, I meant like 100 miles of distance. Ohio does have two types of rattlesnake and a few bear, though. We also have bobcats. Wild America right here in the Buckeye State.

Well there's black bears near where I live, once every few years one will wander into a town near where I live because we're encroaching upon their habitat more and more. But I've never seen one myself in the wild. Thank God. I'd be crapping my pants.
Black bears are afraid of human and if you're in the woods where one is around, they make themselves scarce.

Rattlesnakes.... no freaking way would I be hiking and camping in an area that has rattlesnakes. Ughhh.
We don't even have them up here, except for a small pocket in western Canada.

We camped at the shelters as well as in our tents. I went during spring break one time and we had 22 people at a shelter one night!

I would have liked to do more hiking this time, but with 3 kids 7 and under going up to Clingman's Dome was enough.

Oh sure don't stop and say Hi to my brother for me ( He lives in Pigeon Forge) I see how you are

I did say hi...even got his picture at the Comedy Barn.

hmmm that looks a lot like him

I misread the title, I thought this thread was about drunk police.

Can't wait to see those pics!! The smokies are a great place to do some herpetology things, they've got everything there.

Well I always thought Smoky was a Bear.

Glad you had a good time in my part of the world.

Bears are in huge numbers in this area....almost a problem as they are starting to wander far from the remote mountains and in to populated areas. Had reports of bears roaming not 5 miles from the house on several occasions over the last few years.

I know there is a big push to increase the number of tags issued to help harvest more bears.

And snakes....I had to pitchfork a 4" round rattlesnake last May...it was a big ******, as big around as a Coke bottle.....was just sunning over by the woodpile in the back of the yard.

I don't like snakes.

Here's a link to the pics. The first rattlesnake pic was taken in low light, hence the graininess. That's the one I almost stepped on. Critique welcomed.

Pbase

'Peen....


...you gotta move, brother!


Rattlers just don't get that big up north of the Mason-Dixon....

jfan....

I searched for your original thread. You know- the one where you discussed being bummed-out and disappointed about your upcoming Eastern-mountain experience, after tromping around in the Rockies last year....

I distinctly remember telling you that you should separate yourself from the Rockies experience, and take the Smokies experience at face-value, in order to gain the most from both.... or words to that effect.

In it, I talked about my favorite place in Canada... one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America... and explained that huge mountains, massive vistas and the like are all well and good... but that The Natural Experience found anywhere can be inspirational.

Like I said... I did a search, but couldn't find the thread or my post. It's also possible that I deleted my entry before posting... I dump a lot of posts that 'Talkers never see. If that's true, I apologize... I really WANTED you to read what I'd already discovered.

If I did delete that post before sharing, and you want your next satisfying adventure, PM me... I'll give you all the info you need to have a great, great time... on your next extended adventure.

Hike/canoe/kayak/climb... the place Me & My Honey go will give you all you want. Trust me.

p.s.... and if my post made it onto your thread.... I TOLD YOU SO!!!!


Glad you had a great outdoor experience!


All my best, Dawg.....
Clem

p.s.: On-foot, backcountry camping is best, most primal, and most rewarding kind of camping you can do. Read up on it, get informed about working with a map and compass... then GITCHERAZZ OUT THERE!!!

You'll thank me for it, I promise.

I don't remember the thread or your response, but you were right! I'm just glad the wife and kid like to get into the backcountry almost as much as I do....and appreciate the stuff you don't see just walking the streets of Gatlinburg. I'll PM you when we're ready for our next vacation. We just may head back down there because there are quite a few more hikes we'd like to do in the Smokies. Isle Royale is also on the radar screen. Thanks.

Again, here's a link to some of the pics:

Pbase

GREAT pics bro

Great stuff J....it's been a while since I have been up to the smokies in the summer. My last few trips have been in the winter.

If you ever get the chance it see the park in the winter, by all means do so...it presents a side beauty not as many people have experienced.

I will have to make a weekend jaunt this winter and post up a few shots.

Nice pic's....I've seen bear in lot's of place's but haven't seen a rattler since i was in 1st grade....I know there around though.

nordawg

Yes, great pics. I'm thinking about heading up there again this fall or maybe winter. It's been years since I've seen a "real" autumn.

I'd love to see wild animals as long as I don't come within 3 ft of a grizzly