Black bears den for the winter months and typically emerge in late March or early April. When they emerge from dens, natural foods are scarce and often bears are lured by the smell of human-related foods. Nuisance reports peak in June and July for two reasons.

Do bears sleep when they aren’t in hibernation?

• Instead of hibernating, bears fall into a deep sleep called torpor. During torpor, heart rate and breathing rate decreases, body temperature reduces slightly and bears do not eat or release bodily waste. Bears can sleep more than 100 days without eating, drinking, or passing waste!

Do bears in Tennessee hibernate?

Bear Behavior Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities, or wherever there is shelter. Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep.

How long do black bears hibernate in Tennessee?

One of the animals in the Smoky Mountains that many folks hope to see is the black bear. However, most bears are in their winter dens from mid-December to mid-March so they can be difficult to spot during the winter season.

When can you see bears in Smoky Mountains?

Spring and summer provide the best opportunities to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains. Early morning and late afternoon sightings are more likely, since that is when they forage for food. Black bears avoid activity during the heat of summer days, preferring to lounge in the shade or rest high up in a tree.

What months are bears most active?

If you want to give yourself the best chance to see an active bear, September and October are the best months. Bears are most active during this period, preparing for their lengthy hibernation. Some of the most popular activities for bears include snoozing, wandering, and fishing.

Are black bears aggressive?

In most cases, black bears are relatively shy, only acting aggressively as a last resort. Nevertheless, the most effective way to avoid a bear attack is by preventing encounters in the first place. Just because black bears can be less dangerous than other large carnivores doesn’t mean fatal attacks don’t happen.

Do black bears come out 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 many black bears live 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.

Where do black bears sleep in the summer?

Most often they make a den under a rock, in a hollow tree, snuggled under a fallen tree, or in a brush pile. In the springtime, as snow melts and food sources become more available, bears wake up from their long hibernation. During the next few months, they rarely sleep at all.

What time of day are black bears most active in fall?

Behavior: Most bears become active a half-hour before sunrise, take a nap or two during the day, and bed down for the night an hour or two after sunset. Some bears are active mainly at night to avoid people or other bears. Black bears are considered highly efficient hibernators.

What to do if you see 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.

Are there grizzly bears in Tennessee?

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.

Do bears hibernate in Smoky Mountains?

Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. They may leave the den for short periods if disturbed or during brief warming trends.

What are bears scared of?

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.

What do bears do during hibernation?

Hibernating bears enter a shallow torpor with a decrease in body temperature of only 10 degrees. It’s metabolism and hear rate slows down. But it doesn’t need to eat, drink or pass waste. In order to survive, fat in the bear’s body breaks down into water and calories for the body to use.

Where Do bears sleep?

They usually dig a den which they may use for several consecutive years. Natural caves or rock fissures sometimes also serve as retreats. Before the winter sets in, the bears cushion their dens nicely with grass, leaves, ferns, moss and lichen.