There are Many Species of Wildlife in the Smoky Mountains! Of
the many types of wildlife in the Smoky Mountains there are over 50
species of mammals. The most popular and largest of these mammals is
the American Black Bear. An average bear weighs about 200 – 300
pounds and doesn’t have problems finding something to eat. It is
important to use caution when dealing with bears in the park. Feeding
bears is not healthy for them at all. They lose the fear of people and
will come around in the search for food. Feeding bears is also against
park regulations and you must dispose of garbage in proper containers
to keep it away from the bears.
Click Here! Click Here! There really is no best place to view bears
but Cades Cove and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail tends to be a couple
of the best spots to see bear. They are most active in the early
morning and late evening. Chances are you will not come across an
aggressive bear but if it should happen, the best thing to do is to
make a lot of noise and slowly retreat. Only when dealing with a hungry
human fed bear or disturbing a mother bear with her cub may bears
become dangerous. Just remember you are seeing these bears in their
habitat.
Other commonly seen wildlife in the Smoky
Mountains includes groundhogs which are commonly seen along the road,
five different types of squirrels, and the Cottontail rabbit. There are
other mammals that are seldom seen mostly due to their being
nocturnally active creatures.
Wildlife in the Smoky Mountains also includes over 200 species of birds. Most are heard and not seen but some of the more commonly send feathered creatures include the dark – eyed Junco, Crow, Raven, wild turkey and ruffed grouse. Good bird watching spots include Sugarlands Visitors Center, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove.  Snakes are common in the park and there are 23 different species including two poisonous types, the Timber Rattlesnakes and the Copperhead. Neither snake is aggressive and can usually be found in rocky areas. Staying on the hiking trails is the best way to avoid a confrontation with these reptiles. The most commonly seen species in the park is the eastern garter snake and the northern water snake.
Amphibious wildlife in the Smoky Mountains includes 27 varieties of salamanders, more than anywhere else in North America. There are toads, frogs, lizards and over 60 kinds of fish. Anglers seek the rainbow and brown trout in over 600 miles of trout streams in the park.
Part of the lure of visiting the Smoky
Mountains is to view the wildlife in its own habitat. But it is
important to remember that you are in their house. Take care to not
disturb the habitat of this wildlife and help preserve one of the most
important aspects of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Other
wildlife in the Smoky Mountains includes deer. There are 1,000’s
of deer throughout the park and are the most commonly seen animal. It
is not uncommon to see almost 200 deer at sunrise around the Cades Cove
area. They prefer woodlands with some clearings and are most active in
the morning and evenings.
Opossums,
raccoons and skunks are often heard around campgrounds at night looking
for food. If you are staying at a cabin in the woods of the Smoky
Mountain area, you may also come into contact with one of these little
creatures at night. Pictured here is a raccoon that came to visit us
every evening while staying at a cabin here in the Smokies. There are
also bobcats, red fox, gray fox, weasels and mink.
