Black Bear researchers just recently announced that the estimated
population of Black Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains is denser than
any other natural area in the entire United States, with populations
nearing 2,000!
Only an exceedingly rich ecosystem is capable of supporting such a high
density, providing food and shelter to these animals, of which 80% of
its diet is made up of berries, roots, grasses, leaves, and mast
(acorns and nuts), Of which 2002 has been described by Park Officials as
a 'bumper' crop, which good berry and mast falls traditionally result in
bears gaining 2-3 pounds per day, and females producing two to three
healthy cubs. The balance of the Black Bears diet typically
consists of occasional salamanders, rodents, insects, and animals even
as big as wild hogs and deer. In very sparse years, bears will
venture out of the protection of the National Park and become exposed to
hunters, land owners and even poachers. There have been extremely
sparse years where an estimated one third of the Black Bear population
in Southern Appalachia.
Don't let the lumbering Black Bear fool you, these animals are capable
of bursts up to 30 miles per hour, much faster than the fastest
human. Females average 125 pounds, while their male
counterparts average 100 pounds heavier than the females. The
author knows of one such bear that was illegally killed in Gatlinburg
that weighed over 600 pounds! Although a small percentage of the
Smokies Black Bears may have white chest markings, Mature brown or
cinnamon bears do not occur here. The average Black Bear will live
between 8-12 years, although some have lived here to over 20 years.
There were witnesses to so called 'hunters' that would prop open
dumpsters (folks this was approximately 2,000 feet from downtown
Gatlinburg traffic light #6) and wait till a bear tried to climb in the
dumpster and shoot them. If these 'hunters' call this 'sport',
it's just to bad the bears can't have guns and shoot back... (This was
the exception, we're not implying every Gatlinburg hunter stooped to
such inhumane tactics.) It's just that the bears near the motel by
the dumpster were absolutely adored by locals and vacationers alike FROM
A DISTANCE, and was the highlight of many a vactioner to see a real live
bear!
When looking for bears, don't forget to look UP as bears spend a lot of
times in trees foraging for insects, bird eggs, acorns, and even
hollowed out trunks to sleep in. Black Bears are also good
swimmers.
Although Black Bears enter the winter dens about the middle of December,
they will occasionally leave the den for days at a time.
Biologists weigh more upon the lack of food, than the cold temperature
when it comes to denning.
Female bears without cubs and male bears will emerge from their dens in
the middle of March, female bears with cubs (a typical family will be
twins, with as many as 5 cubs have been reported in the National Park)
will typically emerge in the early part of April. The cubs will
generally be with their mother until they reach the age of 1.5 years (18
months) or until she mates again.
