More than two hundred thirty birds call the park home and over one hundred ten breed within its boundaries. If you enjoy bird watching, the best viewing times is very early morning when they are most active. Common species seen in the park include barn swallows, blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, chimney swifts, eastern phoebes, indigo buntings and warblers. Eagles, hawks and turkey vultures and other birds of prey are often seen. The best bird viewing areas are Cades Cove, Oconaluftee and Sugarlands.
Reptiles
Lizards, turtles and snakes all live in Great Smoky Mountains. There are two species of poisonous rattlesnakes in the park; the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Neither snake’s venom is lethal. Snake bites within the park are rare. Use common sense and stay alert. Other common reptiles seen in the park are the common snapping turtle, the eastern box turtle and the southeastern five-lined skink.
Bears
Great Smoky Mountains is one place in the eastern US where black bears can live in their natural habitat. They live on all elevation levels and there are approximately sixteen hundred of them within the park’s boundaries. Two bears live in each square miles of the park. Some bears have been recorded as weighing more than six hundred pounds, though normal weight is two hundred fifty for males and one hundred pounds and up for females. Wild bears live from ten to fifteen years. Bears who are fed by humans have a life span of half that. For this reason, and because it’s dangerous, feeding the bears is strictly prohibited.
Usually bears are spotted in early morning or late evening. Mating takes place in July and both males and females can be more aggressive during this time. Cubs are born in January and spend their first year with their mother. Never approach a bear cub. You can bet that Mama Bear is not far away.
A bear’s behavior is always unpredictable. Attacks on humans are rare, but have occurred. Bears can inflict serious injury or kill humans easily. If you spot a bear, remain alert. If it changes its behavior in any way, makes loud noises, looks at you and huffs, swats the ground or runs at you, you are much too close. The bear is telling you that you are in its space. Never run from a bear; back away slowly. If you give the bear the space that it’s demanding, it will not be as inclined to attack.
If a bear follows you without a change in its behavior, change direction; you may both just be going the same way. If the bear continues to follow you, try to intimidate it by shouting, clapping your hand loudly and acting aggressive. Throw rocks or pieces of wood at it. Never leave or throw food. This promotes aggression if the animal has another encounter with humans.
Black bear injuries are not common in the park. If a bear attempts to get your food, distance yourself from the area. If a black bear attacks you, use a large stick or other object and fight aggressively. Be sure to report all bear aggression to a park ranger. This keeps him informed, which can protect others from bear attack.