Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are monitoring increased bear activity after several recent incidents involving visitors. Park officials say rangers responded to three bear-related incidents over the weekend on the Ramsey Cascades Trail, including two encounters where a bear approached visitors and took two backpacks, and a third in which a bear showed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group. As a result, Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail are closed until further notice while rangers continue to monitor the area.
Park officials also reported three incidents last weekend on Abrams Falls Trail involving an aggressive black bear, including one case where a visitor was bitten after entering a closed area. That trail and access road have now reopened after several days with no observed bear activity.
The National Park Service says spring is a sensitive time as mother bears emerge from dens with cubs in search of limited food sources, increasing the chances of human-bear encounters. Visitors are reminded to stay at least 50 yards away from bears, secure all food and trash, avoid stopping in the road to watch wildlife, and never feed a bear. The park says Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to about 1,900 black bears, and with around 12 million visitors each year, safety precautions are critical for both people and wildlife.
