https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/alerts-notices/?aid=66454, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD921040, Cheoah RD: Prescribed Burn Planned in Graham County, Cheoah RD: NCDOT highway improvements will affect AT users, Croatan NF: Two Roads Closed for Visitor Safety and Maintenance, Cheoah RD: Fontana Loop Trail TR15, Portions of Bee Cove TR421 Temporarily Close, Camping and other restrictions now in effect at Max Patch, Nantahala RD: Old River Rd Temporarily Closed For Maintenance Beginning 3/1/23, Nantahala RD: Multiple areas under construction, Appalachian RD: NCDOT construction near Harmon Den may affect Forest access, Grandfather RD: Old House Gap Rd (FS192) temporarily closed, Target Shooting prohibited on Croatan National Forest. While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities. Clint Turnage, USDA May 18: Surveyor Mauled in Alaska An Alaska surveyor survived a brutal. The bears will often stay in the area of the incident for multiple hours and they have a large range that can extend several miles. Forest visitors have reported bears tearing down bear bags from trees, carrying off backpacks, spending hours near campsites and being unaffected by efforts to scare them away, the forest service said in a news release. Bears are opportunists by nature. To avoid bear attacks, experts recommend the following: website belongs to an official government organization in the Thats just one of many adjustments people who live near Pisgah have learned to make to safely coexist with bears. Over the next several minutes, there were repeated attacks by the bear while the couple retreated with their dog to the safety of their vehicle. Also this year, the Citizen-Times reported that some campgrounds were closed due to bear activity in the Pisgah National Forest near the Appalachian Trail. With so many remote areas in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests to explore, the U.S. Forest Service reminds visitors to practice simple steps to avoid black bear encounters. Dont discharge a firearm; this can cause a safety hazard for other visitors. Enter to Win A 2-Night Stay + Spa Treatments at Omni Grove Park Inn, Appalachian Trail: North Carolina Day Hikes. Pisgah National Forest warns visitors to North Mills River, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and Black Balsam and surrounding areas on the Pisgah Ranger District to be on the look out for black bears. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. Since 2010, there have been at least 12 incidents in which a bear made contact with a person resulting in either major or minor injuries, according to state wildlife biologist Colleen Olfenbuttel. Howard doesnt think its pushing bears out of their habitat. Existing reservations for tent camping at the campground have been cancelled for the next seven days. Morebear safety tipsare available on the Parkways Bear Safety page. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. Required fields are marked *. PLEASE NOTE: Thisis an information and administrative office located in Asheville, NC and is not actually in the forest. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.4251. Asheville, NC, June 10, 2021Hikers along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are asked to take precautions to avoid bears after recent reports of increased encounters. The Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School girls basketball team made history again Saturday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, winning the programs first back-to-back state championship title. throwing rocks and sticks at it. Follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook(. Reservation holders were contacted by park staff and through the online reservation system, recreation.gov. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. Mars Hill, NC, July 1, 2021 The Pisgah National Forest is implementing new restrictions at Max Patch designed to reduce impacts to natural resources and protect public health and safety. I dont want to speculate about the hows and whys of his death, but we should note the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) said that the bears had likely not killed him. When storing food be sure to store it 100 yards or more away from campsites. In summer 2021, due to black bear activity, the Forest Service banned camping for weeks along an eight-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Pisgah. Pisgah . While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities. The trail remains open to hiking, but camping is not allowed from Grassy Fork Road, mile marker 245, to Max Patch Road, mile marker 253, including the Groundhog Creek Shelter. While bear attacks are uncommon, incidents do occur. HELENA, Mont. The campground, located near Milepost 408, has seen increasing bear activity in recent days. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite. Around 10 yards he finally turned and ran off back up the mountain road. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Bear sightings, while infrequent,are more common in spring. Multiple bear encounters have been reported in the following areas: To view a map of the Appalachian trail with mile markers and shelter locations please visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website at https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/hike-the-a- t/interactive-map/. Without hunting allowed anymore, the famed mountain woman opined in the 40s or the 50s that the bears and the foxes and other critters were getting far more annoying. Never run away from a bear-back away slowly and make lots of noise. Still, seeing bears in everyday life is becoming more common, which can be increasingly dangerous for both humans and bears. But most visitors dont come from areas where bears are common, so they dont always know what to do. In June 2021, reports of aggressive bears led to a temporary ban on camping. Dont run and dont turn away from the bear. Hikers should use bear canisters to store food and all other scented items. Usually they are seen in more remote areas, but it's not uncommon to see them in the city of Asheville. I yelled at them that there was a bear in it and he laughed. April 20, 2021 7:51 AM A grizzly attacked a hiker near Baker's Hole Campground in West Yellowstone, Montana, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue team. Backcountry users must use commercially-made canisters constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears. The U.S. Forest Service strongly encourages hikers to use bear canisters that are commercially made and constructed of solid, non-pliable material to properly store food and other scented items such as toothpaste and deodorant. Official websites use .gov A .gov We are always working to improve this website for our users. By Lightning Reports, Published: June 26, 2021 Hikers along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are asked to take precautions to avoid bears after recent reports of increased encounters. If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together, or throwing rocks and sticks at it. Please contact local offices by phone or email to find the current statusand how to get the services and information you need. Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing these additional safety tips: The large number of bear sightings and encounters in the past few years has led to required use of bear-proof canisters in the Shining Rock and Black Balsam areas. Wipe tabletops clean. According to the 2020 census, the population of Buncombe Countyhome to Asheville and the public gateway to the Pisgah National Forestgrew 13.1 percent since 2010. Feb. 24 (UPI) --The new movie Cocaine Bear, starring Keri Russell and directed by Elizabeth Banks, opens Friday. If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together, or throwing rocks and sticks at it. Well, the bears have had to learn that people are everywhere, so a lot of times they don't pay people any attention. Black bears are wild and must be treated with respect. Camping is temporarily prohibited along the trail in the Pisgah National Forest because of a bear with cubs . United States government. Share sensitive information only If you are attacked by a black bear, try to fight back using any object available. Mama bears are very protective of her cubs. 2021 Season update. These incidents result in a bear needing to be trapped, relocated or euthanized. For instance, each backcountry campsite and shelter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a cable and pulley system which allows backpackers to easily hoist their food and packs out of the reach of black bears, providing a safer environment for hikers and animals alike. The purpose of these areas was to allow the bear populations in those areas to fill, and then of course, dispersing bears from those populations would populate surrounding areas, Howard explained. Though rare, attacks on humans do occur, causing injuries or death. Never run away from a bearback away slowly and make lots of noise. For more info, see our Waterfalls and Hiking Safety Tips. the forest service said in a news release. It worked. High 71F. She says shes never had a negative interaction with a bear in the forest. United States. Act aggressively and intimidate the bear by yelling and waving your arms. Share sensitive information only It worked wonderfully., So well, in fact, that the black bear population is now restored, he said. Dont leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. Management said that the bear would walk around in the parking lot looking for food and to be careful. It's the second summer in a row that bear alerts have been issued for Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. Low 58F. The population growth has come with increased development. To do this we use the anonymous data provided by cookies. That's certainly putting more bears on the landscape at the same time were putting more people on the landscape, Howard said, so we're inevitably going to experience more and more human-bear interactions, many of which will be perceived as negative.. And that is often interpreted by somebody who's afraid of bears as aggressive behavior., Lea believes the WRCs move to open the sanctuaries and sell permits to hunt in them is an easy way to reward their clientele, the bear hunters., A lot of people believe wildlife agencies are there for animals, but their primary goal for some species is to produce a sustainable annual harvest that hunters can kill, Lea said. Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing these additional safety tips: Properly store food and scented items like toothpaste by using a bear-proof container. Based on the reported behavior of the bear, it is certainly conditioned to food in the campground and losing its fear of people, the TWRA said in a release to the Charlotte Observer. Once a bear feeds off of garbage or litter, they are used to getting food from these sources. On the Grandfather Ranger District, bears have also been active at Table Rock and the Old Fort Picnic Area. Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills or other areas of your campsite. Some offices are closed to the public while others have limited hours or are open by appointment only. Throw non-food objects (such as rocks) at the bear. If a bear approaches, move away slowly; do not run. Nobody was harmed in those incidents. PLEASE NOTE: Thisis an information and administrative office located in Asheville, NC and is not actually in the forest. About the time he got ready to toss in the bags, the bear popped up and growled. Keep your dog on a leash in areas where bears are reported. Asheville, NC, June 10, 2021 Hikers along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are asked to take precautions to avoid bears after recent reports of increased encounters. Act aggressively and intimidate the bear by yelling and waving your arms. Our office operations have changeddue to COVID-19. If you are attacked by a black bear, try to fight back using any object available. Camping is temporarily prohibited along the trail in the Pisgah National Forest because of a bear with cubs continuously coming too close to campers with food. They learn to come back for more. In summer 2021, due to black bear activity, the Forest Service banned camping for weeks along an eight-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Pisgah. A woman in Alaska reported being chased by grizzlies, and a California teen went viral after bull-rushing a bear that was perched on a wall, swatting at her familys dogs. Some offices are closed to the public while others have limited hours or are open by appointment only. A couple years ago, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort about two or three blocks from downtown Gatlinburg. State wildlife officials say theyre asking for the change at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, which has reported increasing numbers of negative human-bear interactions in recent years at the Panthertown-Bonas Defeat wildlife area. 1:36. Never approach a bear or other wild animal. My husband was lil ways behind me & he stopped. It's not the animals fault that the human is messing up their natural environment.. Share your stories with us in the comments. In June 2021, reports of aggressive bears led to a temporary ban on camping along the Appalachian Trail in the area, from Double Springs Shelter to Backbone Rock Side Trail. She had to be evacuated by helicopter. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. All rights reserved. If you ever see bear cubs, get out of the area immediately. The average weight of a black bear is 300 pounds. In July of 2021, another bear was causing trouble at the Paint Creek Campground in the Cherokee National Forest near Greeneville at the Tennessee-Carolina state line. Chance of rain 90%. Never store food & scented items in your tent, including toothpaste, deodorant, beverages, or snacks. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. It's the same thing that happens out westyou see people trying to get too close to bison and take their picture, and then they get charged, Huehls said. Associated Press. Please contact local offices by phone or email to find the current statusand how to get the services and information you need. Typically a bear is more afraid of humans. . The sad aspect of that bear attack in the National Park is park officials killed a black bear at the scene, who was later confirmed by DNA analysis as not the attack bear. Longtime hiker Rachel Huehls has lived near the town of Black Mountain for 20 years. Lea blames the rising number of negative interactions on humans lack of education about bears and bears increasing exposure to humans. When storing food be sure to store it 100 yards or more away from campsites. Black bears look for food that campers and trail users bring on their trips. Asheville If necessary, attempt to scare the animal away with loud shouts, by banging pans together, or Even without opening the sanctuaries, thousands of bears are already legally killed in the state each year. 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