Bear Safety Tips

Blue Ridge Parkway -- August 8, 2024: Today on social media, Blue Ridge Parkway Service posted the following very important information:

Bear and other wildlife sightings are common while traveling along the Parkway. Seeing a bear can be very exciting, but for the safety of you and the bears keep a distance of 50 yards, even in a vehicle.

DO NOT try luring the bears or feeding them. These animals are creatures of habit and attracting the animals to the roadway, or other visitor-heavy areas, acclimates them to both vehicles and humans by losing their instinctive fear. This can lead to bears becoming unpredictable and dangerous to property and people.

 Dogs' behavior can provoke a bear to become defensive. Dogs must be leashed while in the park. This can prevent dangerous encounters with bears during your visit.

The following information is from the National Park Service:

Visitors and the bear are fine, and park staff are working on implementing bear aversion tactics. But this does mean that the Gorges campground is closed for the next 2 weeks. If you have a camping reservation between now and November 16, you will receive a full refund.
The park remains open for day-use, but we advise visitors to always use caution (at Gorges and all state parks in bear country).

BE AWARE, try to make noise periodically, and don't use earbuds. (The bear more than likely hates your taste in music and podcasts anyway.)

DON'T HIKE ALONE, if possible! Take someone with you. (Whether you choose someone who looks more appetizing than you is your business, but keep in mind that beauty is in the eye of the bear-holder.)
Always KEEP YOUR PETS ON A LEASH or leave them at home. (Dogs are friends, not food. If anyone can translate that into bear language, let us know. In the meantime, 6-foot leash at all times!)

PACK OUT OR DISPOSE OF ALL FOOD AND TRASH. (It's rude to leave things at the bear's house, and they're clearly already grumpy.)

But seriously folks, stay safe out there! DO NOT APPROACH A BEAR AND/OR TRY TO GIVE IT FOOD! If you encounter a bear, back away slowly and quietly in the opposite direction.

Park rules exist to keep you and wildlife safe. Our friends North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission have more great BearWise tips here: https://www.ncwildlife.org/promotion/bearwise

WNCTimes

Image: WNCTimes