So Much Nature
Wildlife and Waterfalls of the Smokies
Bears
The Smokies are known for their black bear population, and many visitors look forward to the opportunity to catch a glimpse of a bear during their visit. It is estimated that 1,500 individuals live throughout the park. Most spend their lives in remote areas, avoiding contact with humans except for chance encounters during backwoods hikes. However, it is common for black bears to venture beyond the park boundaries, and into areas inhabited by humans. This is especially true in wooded, mountainous areas such as the one in which Happy Bear’s Hideaway is located.
If you have passed through these hills, you have undoubtedly noticed the black, steel cages installed near almost every home. You’ve probably also noticed that they contain garbage cans. Bears generally only enter populated areas in search of food, and they aren’t picky eaters.
A black bear will consume household refuse just as voraciously as its normal diet of nuts, berries, and grubs. This creates problems for both the humans and the bear. When a bear learns to associate humans with food (and it will… bears are fairly intelligent creatures), it will become emboldened and lose its fear of approaching people. This often leads to unfortunate encounters which, more often than not, result in the bear being perceived as dangerous and ultimately lead to its being destroyed.
To avoid this undesirable end, the solution is simple: just don’t feed bears. Keeping garbage cans locked up in bear-proof cages prevents a bear from regarding them as food sources. The bear will learn not to waste its time on trash, and will return to more appropriate sources of sustenance.
However, this does not mean that bears stay away from cabins altogether. Since we are located in the woods, there are plenty of natural foods available for bears to consume, and they do visit Annes Road in search of these goodies. It is not unusual to see a bear sniffing the road, rummaging through the underbrush, or climbing a tree in search of food. These animals are fun to watch, but keep your distance. Most of the time, the bear will continue to do whatever it is doing (usually eating), seemingly oblivious to your presence. Don’t be fooled… it knows you’re there; it just doesn’t perceive you as a threat. The general rule of thumb is that if your presence causes the bear to change its behavior, you are getting too close and should back off.
Other Wildlife
Without a doubt, the Black Bear is the signature fauna of the Smokies, and the single species that creates the greatest excitement among visitors to the area. For those of us who spend a lot of time here, bear sightings are a surprisingly commonplace occurrence. But for visitors, seeing one of these beloved creatures in its natural environment is a source of great excitement, and stories of such encounters are often taken home as a highlight of their visit.
But black bears are far from the only indigenous species that one encounters in the Smokies, and it can be every bit as rewarding to observe other local critters living their lives in their natural habitat. White-tailed deer are commonplace, especially in Cades Cove, where they graze peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the never-ending parade of vehicles snaking their way along the loop road. Wild turkey are ubiquitous throughout the park and surrounding mountains. Coyotes can be spotted on occasion, and the park is home to an unknown number of wild hogs, which were unintentionally introduced and have become a nuisance species. Elk were introduced into the Smokies in 2001, and can often be observed grazing in the vicinity of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the south end of the park. River otters make their homes in the GSMNP, and can occasionally be seen frolicking in streams throughout the park.
As previously noted, the Smokies are home to a great variety of salamanders, including the enormous but reclusive hellbender. Reptiles are also common. Snakes of all sizes and colors can be found throughout the park, including two venomous ones: the copperhead and the timber rattler. While the bites of these poisonous snakes can provoke serious reactions and should be treated immediately, it is important to note that they are rarely fatal, and there are no records of anyone dying as the result of snakebite in the history of the GSMNP.
Waterfalls
The Great Smoky Mountains make up some of the most rugged terrain in the Appalachian Mountain chain, with elevations ranging from under 800 to over 6,600 feet. In addition to having the characteristic of steep terrain, another significant attribute of the Smokies is the amount of rain they receive. Technically classified as a temperate rainforest, between 55 and 85 inches of rain fall here every year, exceeding the total rainfall everywhere else in the United States except for the Pacific Northwest. High, sloping mountains channel all of the runoff into narrow, rocky valleys, some of which descend rapidly as well. The result of these two factors – steep terrain and a lot of flowing water – is the creation of numerous waterfalls throughout the park. Many of these scenic features can be reached by hiking trails, and some are even visible from the roadside.