Black Bear in the Smoky Mountains Goes for a Swim in Cabin’s Hot Tub
#The black bears are still having fun in the Smoky Mountains! This week, a black bear was spotted climbing into a hot tub at a Gatlinburg cabin rental. The bear just wanted to splash around and relax in the warm water! Kevin White caught a few seconds of it on camera, and we have the video for you! Watch the video of the black bear in the Smoky Mountains in a hot tub below:
Black Bear in Hot Tub
This black bear in the Smoky Mountains was having a blast splashing around in the hot tub! Although the video itself is only a few seconds long, it looks like the bear had quite the adventure at the Gatlinburg cabin!
For another video of black bears swimming in a hot tub, check out our blog, “Gatlinburg Bear Cubs Go for a Splash in Cabin’s Hot Tub.”
What to Do if See a Smoky Mountain Black Bear at Your Cabin
Keep in mind that bears do travel outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and there is a chance you might spot one while staying in a Gatlinburg cabin. However, there’s nothing to worry about! If you see a Smoky Mountain black bear at your cabin, the first thing you should do is remain calm. If you’re inside, stay inside and make as much noise as possible to try to get the bear to leave. If you’re outside, make sure you’re a safe distance away from the bear. The National Park Service requires everyone to stay at least 50 yards away from wildlife at all times. If you’re too close, back away slowly to increase the distance.
How to Prevent Black Bears at Your Cabin
While there’s no way to guarantee a black bear won’t wander to your cabin, there are precautions you can take to make the situation less likely. Be sure to clean up all your garbage and throw away all trash in a bear-proof trash can. Any food scraps left behind will attract bears to your cabin. When bears get ahold of human food and garbage, they tend to lose their fear of humans, making their behavior unpredictable. To protect the safety of both the bears and yourself, be sure to clean up after yourself and keep all food secured. Also be sure to keep all windows rolled up and car doors locked to prevent them from digging around in your vehicle for food.
How to Safely See Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains
Seeing a black bear in the Smoky Mountains can be exciting, but you want to make sure you do it in a safe way. Cades Cove is one of the most popular places in the Smokies to spot a black bear. You can drive around the 11-mile loop road and watch for wildlife from the comfort of your car! In addition to black bears, you’ll have the opportunity to see white-tailed deer, wild turkey, skunks and more. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is another popular place in the park to see black bears. As you drive down the one-way road, keep an eye on the trees, where the black bears love to play. Other places you can safely spot black bears are Ober Gatlinburg’s Wildlife Encounter and the Three Bears General Store in Pigeon Forge.
More Black Bear Safety Tips
When you visit, it’s important to be aware of how to stay safe if you do see a black bear in the Smoky Mountains. This will help protect not only your safety, but the bear’s safety as well. To learn more, check out the 4 black bear safety tips you need to know.
