Bear Encounters Prompt Trail Closure In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park have closed Ramsey Prong Road and  Ramsey Cascades Trail after responding to three bear‑related incidents in the area this week. Two incidents involved encounters in which a bear approached visitors and took two backpacks, and in a third incident, a bear displayed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group. 

Last weekend, rangers also addressed three incidents on Abrams Falls Trail involving an aggressive black bear, including one case where the bear bit a visitor who entered a closed area. The Abrams Falls access road and trail are now open, after several days with no observed bear activity.  

During spring, black bear activity increases in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as mother bears emerge from their dens with young cubs searching for limited early‑season food sources. Because this is a sensitive time for mother bears and cubs, getting too close can cause stress and lead to unsafe encounters.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to approximately 1,900 American black bears and is the most-visited national park in the United States, with around 12 million visitors each year. This combination of high visitation and a thriving bear population increases the likelihood of human-bear encounters.     

Bear safety guidelines and regulations:   

• Never approach bears. Stay at least 50 yards (150 feet) away. Violating this regulation can result in fines and arrest.  
• Don't create a bear jam. Seeing a bear from your vehicle is always exciting, but stopping in the middle of the road creates hazards for wildlife, increases emergency response times and impacts other visitors. When viewing a bear from your car, remain inside the vehicle and move on from the bear quickly so as not to impede traffic.  
• Secure food and trash. Keep all food, trash and scented items in a locked, hard-sided vehicle and lock vehicle doors. In backcountry areas, use bear cables to hang food or scented items, and do not store these items in a tent or shelter.  Pack out all trash and food scraps when hiking. 
• Never feed a bear. Feeding wildlife in the park is a federal offense and can result in fines of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.  Feeding a bear even once can result in that bear becoming conditioned to human food and losing its fear of humans. Fed bears have been euthanized in the park due to visitor actions.   
• Leave pets at home. Dogs can provoke defensive and predatory behavior in bears. Dogs are permitted on the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail only.   
• Be prepared and stay alert. Be aware of your surroundings, especially when hiking or camping. Always stay with your group. Consider carrying bear spray and know how to use it properly. Bears in the park have exhibited predatory behavior, such as stalking, especially with solo hikers.   
• Report violations and unusual bear behavior. If you see someone feeding or approaching a bear, or if you witness unnatural bear behavior, report it to park authorities immediately by calling 865-436-1230 or filling out a bear incident report.