Do I need bear spray in Smoky Mountains?
Do I need bear spray in Smoky Mountains? Encounters With Bears Treat bear encounters with extreme caution! Bear pepper spray may be carried by hikers within Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the strict purpose of protection against bodily harm from aggressive wildlife.
Are there mountain lions in the Smoky Mountains?
There are eight to 10 reported sightings of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year.
How likely am I to see a bear in the Smoky Mountains?
Location of Bears in the Smokies With approximately 1,500 bears in the park, the population density is roughly two bears per square mile! This means that bear sightings in the park are not uncommon, especially during the early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer when they are the most active.