Yesterday we reported that several campsites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are currently closed due to bear activity. Our mission includes educating the public about black bears, and we often give programs to clubs, schools, and other groups, emphasizing the importance of keeping food and other attractants stored so that they do not tempt bears. The storage of food is as important at campsites as it is at homes. Very likely the bear activity at the campsites in GSMNP was caused by campers being careless with food storage.
ABR’s education volunteers have presented programs recently at 2 country clubs in Western North Carolina and at the Mountain Black Bear Festival in Highlands, NC. A program for a summer day camp at a Maryville, TN school is coming up next week, and an information table will be set up at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on June 25th from 10 to 4. Anyone with questions about safety in bear country and/or how to coexist with bears, can have their questions answered by our knowledgeable volunteers, who will also be happy to talk with visitors about ABR, our 7 cubs, and what we do to help them grow big and strong for ultimate release.