The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the few places remaining in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. For many, this famous Smokies� resident is a symbol of wilderness

Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. Though populations are varied, counts con- ducted in 2000 indicated approximately 1,800 bears live in the park. This equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile. At one time, the black bear�s range included most of North America except the extreme west coast. Because of the loss of habitat, the black bear is now confined to wooded areas or dense brush land.

All black bears in the park are black in color, but in other parts of the country they may be brown or cinnamon. Black bears may be six feet in length and up to three feet high at the shoulders. Females are generally smaller and weigh less than males. Bears can live 12-13 years or more, except �panhandler� bears which have a life expedience of less than half that time.

Bears in the park are wild and their behavior is sometimes unpredictable. Although extremely rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution and follow these guidelines.

If you see a bear remain watchful. Do not approach it. If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior, you�re too close. Being too close may cause aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noes, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don�t run, slowly back away, watching the bear. Try to increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same. If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing or paw swatting, try changing your directions. If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. Act aggressively and try to intimidate the bear. Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible. Throw non-food items at the bear. Don�t run and don�t turn away from the bear. Don�t leave food for the bear, this just leads to more problems. If the bear shows no interest in your food and you are physically attacked, fight back aggressively with any available object the bear may consider you as pray! Help protect others, report all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. Above all keep your distance from bears!

Habitual panhandler bears must be aversive conditioned or destroyed. If the bears are managed soon after they start to loose their wild behavior, they have a better chance of returning to natural food foraging habits. Until 1991 , the park�s management policy centered on trapping problem bears and relocating them away from populated areas. Frequently, they returned and had to be trapped repeatedly or removed from the park. Now wildlife managers use proactive aversive conditioning that involves capturing, working-up, and releasing black bears into the same area. The work-up involves tranquillizing the animal and performing a safe medical examination on the bear. While the procedure is harmless to the bear, it is unpleasant and re-instills a fear of humans. This approach allows bear to remain in their home range, but they shy away from the developed areas. In addition, bear-proof garbage cans have been replaced with larger bear- proof dumpsters. Volunteers and park staff diligently patrol the busiest picnic areas in the evenings to watch for potential problem bears and to clean up any trash that has been left out. Public education and law enforcement efforts have also been stepped up. So far the results are encouraging and the number of problem bears has been reduced.

The bears keen sense of smell leads it to berries, but the animal is also enticed by human food left on a picnic table or offered from an outstretched hand. Feeding bears or allowing them access to human food causes a number of problems. It changes the bears wild behavior and causes them to lose there instinctive fear of humans. This lack of fear causes panhandler or �nuisance� bears to be more unpredictable and dangerous when they encounter humans. At best, panhandler bears perform tricks to obtain food. At their worst, they damage property and injure people.

In 1999, 116 bear-related incidents were recorded and extensive property damage occurred. It transforms wild and healthy bears into habitual beggars. Studies have shown that panhandler bears never live as long as wild bears. Many are hit by cars and become easy targets for poachers. Beggar bears may die from ingesting food packaging. Many bears have died a slow and agonizing death from eating plastics. Fines up to $5,000 and six months in jail can result from feeding the bears.