Warning: Bears are wild animals that are dangerous and unpredictable. Do not approach bears.

Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.

If you see a bear:

• Remain watchful.

• Do not approach it

• Do not allow the bear to approach you.

• If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close.

• Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.

If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting:

• Change your direction.

• If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground.

• If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it.

• Act aggressively to intimidate the bear. Waving your arms high in the air and shouting will give the bear an impression that you are larger and pose as a threat.

• Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).

• Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear.

• Use a deterrent such as a stout stick.

• Don't run and don't turn away from the bear.

• Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems.

If the bear's behavior indicates that it is after your food and you are physically attacked:

• Separate yourself from the food.

• Slowly back away.

If the bear shows no interest in your food and you are physically attacked, the bear may consider you as prey:

• Fight back aggressively with any available object!

• Do not play dead for a black bear! You will appear as easy food.

Help protect others, report all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. Above all, keep your distance from bears!

Black bears eat just about anything.

Bears who have been fed human food will begin to associate campsites, bags, garbage cans, and even cars with food.

1. If you spend time grilling outside or having a picnic lunch, make sure to pick up any garbage and scraps of food. Bears often scavenge for food, so it’s best to eliminate that scent from the area.

2. For the most part, bears won’t bother an area unless they smell food. So, in addition to ridding of all of the trash, make sure the grill areas are cleaned and free of any leftover foods.

3. Don’t leave garbage sitting on the porch, even if it’s tied up in a bag.

4. Leave automobile windows rolled up and lock the doors. Any food like items left in a car will be tempting for a bear to enter the vehicle in search of food.

Feeding bears eventually results in them becoming completely habituated to approaching people and ultimately becoming dependent on humans as a food source. Once this happens, they lose interest in natural foraging and have to be removed from that environment and in some extreme cases, euthanized

While you may think it won't hurt to leave scraps of food out for a bear, you are not the first one to think that. Bears will eventually become dependent upon humans for food and will become aggressive. Thus, feeding a bear will indeed kill it.