Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Drugs, Not Bear Attack, Killed Man At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Drugs, not a bear, killed a Tennessee man who headed into Great Smoky Mountains National Park last fall to poach ginseng roots, according to the autopsy results.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 4th, 2019 8:30pm

27 comments

Unease Hangs Over National Parks As Partial Shutdown Continues

Sinking morale among the National Park Service ranks and accumulating human waste and garbage are just some of the symptoms of the ongoing government shutdown that has left many national parks open but without adequate staffing. Not so visible are the impacts being suffered in long-term environmental monitoring, work on visitor management plans and environmental impact statements, and even potential setbacks to the hiring of next summer's seasonal rangers.

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By Kurt Repanshek - January 9th, 2019 11:11am

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Campground Usage Study Suggests National Park Service Alter Fee Structure

National park campgrounds could be managed more profitably, according to a nonprofit research organization, which suggests the National Park Service raise cancellation fees and possibly consider a surge pricing system during the busy seasons.

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By NPT Staff - December 24th, 2018 1:30am

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Stargazing Party Scheduled For Saturday At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A stargazing party is planned for Saturday night in Cades Cove at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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By NPT Staff - November 15th, 2018 1:15am

Federal Judge Rules Against U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service In Red Wolf Case

A federal judge has ruled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by rolling back protections for the only wild population of red wolves in North Carolina.

red_wolf_summ_judgement_order.11.5.18.pdf

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By NPT Staff - November 6th, 2018 2:00am

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Five Shots Over Three Days Needed To Kill Great Smoky Mountains Black Bear

Five shots over three days were needed to kill a young Great Smoky Mountains National Park black bear linked to a ginseng poacher who turned up dead in the park last month.

grsm-necropsy_report_hill_sar_9-2018.pdf

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 29th, 2018 3:39pm

16 comments

Sparks Lane At Great Smoky Mountains National Park Will Temporarily Close For Repairs

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are closing Sparks Lane in Cades Cove through Monday, November 12, to repair the low-water crossing across Sea Branch near the south end of Sparks Lane.

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By NPT Staff - October 29th, 2018 1:15am

Final Stretch Of Foothills Parkway To Finally Open At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials plan to open the long-awaited section of the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley, Tennessee, on Saturday, November 10. The public will be able to experience the entire 16-mile roadway for the first time since construction began in 1966, including the 1.65-mile section known as the ‘Missing Link’ which is now connected by a series of nine bridges.

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By NPT Staff - October 26th, 2018 2:00am

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Biodiversity Inventory Reaches 1,000 Species Mark

While it has been hundreds of years since Europeans first arrived in North America, new species continue to be discovered in the landscape. Most recently, those involved with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have reached the 1,000 plateau in terms of new species to science discovered in the park.

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By NPT Staff - October 18th, 2018 2:00am

Good Books For Understanding Bear Behavior

There have been quite a few comments this past week or so in light of an incident at Great Smoky Mountains National Park about bear behavior and what to do with a bear that either mauls a human or feeds on a dead body. There are some good books out there about bear behavior, and what you can do to protect yourself from bears, both blacks and grizzlies.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 7th, 2018 2:00am

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