Tennessee has two main black bear populations: the Appalachian Population along the Tennessee-North Carolina border and the Cumberland Population in the northern part of the Cumberland Plateau along the Tennessee-Kentucky border.

What kind of bluebirds are in Tennessee?

• There are bluebirds and there are blue birds, and no matter which type of blue feathered friend you’re looking for, you’ll likely spot one in Tennessee. The eastern bluebird is common throughout the state. Blue birds that call the volunteer state home include blue jays, blue grosbeaks and belted kingfishers.

Are there grizzly bears in TN?

Grizzly bears are brown bears and seeing as only black bears are known to live in this state it is safe to say that people will not encounter a grizzly here.

What bears are found in Tennessee?

Only one bear species, black bears (Ursus americanus) live in the Volunteer State. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website refers to them as “state treasures.” Tennessee boasts several bear sanctuaries, consisting of a combination of public and private lands.

Are Tennessee black bears aggressive?

They can be unpredictable and agitated and your actions can make them aggressive only if they feel the need to protect themselves. The least aggressive ones are those that are use to seeing people such as the ones around the towns of the Smoky Mountains. When they do come around, they are usually looking for food.

What kind of bears are in Tennessee mountains?

The black bear is the only bear you will find when you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The black bear is the second largest native mammal (the elk is larger than the black bear) in the national park, and there are approximately 1,500 bears in the national park.

Are mountain lions in Tennessee?

Cougars, Puma concolor, The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, puma, and catamount, is the largest feline animal in North America. There haven’t been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s.

Are there alligators in TN?

“ Alligators are naturally expanding their range into Tennessee from the southern border states,” the agency said in a 2018 news release. “Alligators can survive Tennessee winters by going into a hibernation-like dormancy called brumation.

What state has the most black bears?

The Largest Black Bears on the Planet. A little known Bear Fact is that coastal North Carolina is home to the largest black bears on the planet! How big are they? North Carolina’s coastal black bears average 50-100 lbs or more than their cousins.

Are bears active at night?

Bears are usually active from dawn to dusk, but they may be seen any time of day or night. Bears in many places of high human use have become nocturnal in order to avoid people.

How common are black bears in Tennessee?

Today, bears can be found in every county in East Tennessee, from the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau to the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. As of 2020, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency estimates 6,000 bears in the area.

What to do if you run into a black bear?

Stand and face the bear directly. Never run away from or approach him. Make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or, better yet, a coat. Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans or using other noisemaking devices.

How do you scare off a black bear?

To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.

Are bear attacks common in Tennessee?

Bear attacks in the park are rare. They mostly eat berries, nuts and acorns, but also will eat small animals and scavenge on carcasses, McInnis said. But with the Smokies being the most-visited national park in the country – 12.1 million people visited in 2020 – human-bear interactions are almost inevitable.

How likely am I to see a bear in the Smoky Mountains?

Location of Bears in the Smokies With approximately 1,500 bears in the park, the population density is roughly two bears per square mile! This means that bear sightings in the park are not uncommon, especially during the early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer when they are the most active.

Will I see a bear in the Smoky Mountains?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park.

Are there bears in Gatlinburg?

Millions of visitors come to Gatlinburg, TN each year to catch a glimpse of these amazing critters. With roughly 1,600 bears in the national park (around two bears per square mile), there are lots of opportunities for seeing these popular Smoky Mountain residents.