12/10/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/16k9TL8AyS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
TWRA and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have reported a noticeable increase in bear–human interactions this season. And with that… comes an increase in bears having to be humanely euthanized.
I don’t share this to scare anyone — I share it because it’s preventable.Our bears aren’t the problem. Human behavior is.
Here are a few reminders to help keep YOU safe and keep our bears alive:
• Never feed bears — not intentionally, not accidentally. A fed bear is a dead bear.
• Secure all food, snacks, coolers, and trash when you’re hiking, picnicking, or staying in a cabin.
• Give bears distance — at least 50 yards in the national park. If a bear changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close.
• Don’t block roads or crowd around bears for photos. It creates dangerous situations quickly.
• Use bear-proof trash cans whenever available and pack out what you bring in.
• Teach kids proper wildlife safety before heading into the park or trails.
We are lucky to share these mountains with such incredible wildlife — but that comes with responsibility.
If we want healthy bears in the Smokies for generations to come, it starts with us. Respect the distance. Respect the rules. Respect the wildlife.
Let’s do our part. 🐻🌄
