A series of tense encounters with a black bear on the Ramsey Cascades Trail over the weekend has prompted rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to temporarily shut down the area, according to park officials. In three separate incidents, a bear reportedly approached hikers, twice grabbing backpacks, and in a third case, briefly chased a group of visitors. Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail are now closed while wildlife staff keep a close eye on bear activity.
Rangers' Report and Abrams Falls Update
In a news release, the National Park Service said two of the Ramsey Cascades encounters involved a bear approaching visitors and taking their backpacks, and a third episode in which the bear showed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group. The same release noted that rangers also responded to three bear-related incidents last week on Abrams Falls Trail, including a reported bite to a visitor who had entered a closed area. Abrams Falls has since reopened. Park staff said current closures are meant to cut down on human-bear contact while biologists monitor the animals and assess their behavior.
Closures, Local Coverage and Safety Reminders
Local stations such as WVLT and WBIR have been relaying the park's announcement that Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail are closed while rangers monitor conditions, reminding would-be hikers to check current conditions before heading into the Smokies. Their coverage echoes park guidance to keep a safe distance from bears, lock up food and trash in vehicles, avoid creating traffic-clogging "bear jams" by stopping in the road, and to consider carrying bear spray where it is legal.
Why Bears Are Active Now and What To Do
Park officials note that spring is a touchy season, as mother bears emerge from winter dens with cubs at the same time natural food sources are limited. The Smokies are home to roughly 1,900 black bears and welcome about 12 million visitors a year, a combination the park says naturally raises the odds of encounters. Feeding or approaching bears is illegal and can result in fines of up to $5,000 or imprisonment, and the park warns that bears that learn to seek human food are sometimes euthanized. Visitors are urged to store food securely and report unusual bear behavior to park authorities at (865) 436-1230 or through the park's bear incident report, according to the National Park Service.
