Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Coverage of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Nexus archive.
- Bear rescue resumes helping orphaned cubs in Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains
The Appalachian Bear Rescue near Gatlinburg reopened after a closure due to a pneumonia outbreak, raising $800,000 for new facilities and establishing new protocols with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The facility will now rehabilitate orphaned black bear cubs under updated rules, including population limits and regional intake restrictions.
- In the Smoky Mountains, a volunteer effort aims to document every species — before it’s too late
Volunteers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are documenting rare species like lichens and fungi through the Gang of Retirees in Search of Life’s Diversity (GRISLD) group. Their work supports the all taxa biodiversity inventory (ATBI) project, which tracks biodiversity amid climate change threats and funding cuts to federal monitoring programs.
- Black bears are threatened by climate change. How can we help?
Black bears in Tennessee face increasing threats from climate change and human interaction. Rising bear encounters, driven by scavenging for food and habitat disruption, are linked to extreme weather events and drought. Conservation efforts focus on protecting habitats and managing human-bear conflicts.
- Increasing bear encounters across U.S.
The U.S. is experiencing an increase in bear encounters, resulting in the closure of some hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to safety concerns. The park has taken this measure to protect visitors from potential dangers. This development indicates a growing issue with bear interactions in the country.
- Bears chase, bite visitors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed after visitors encountered aggressive bears over the weekend. The incidents led to park closures and raised safety concerns.
- Hidden danger at popular US national park forces trail closures as bear sightings climb
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed several trails due to a surge in black bear activity, prompting safety warnings for visitors. The park, home to one of the densest black bear populations in the U.S., faces risks from human-bear interactions, including intentional feeding, leading to new state laws and fines.