Overview
- Park rangers reported six aggressive encounters on Ramsey Cascades and Abrams Falls trails, including chases, bites, and bears taking backpacks.
- Ramsey Cascades Trail and the access road remain closed as rangers monitor activity, while Abrams Falls Trail and its road have reopened after a lull in bear sightings.
- The National Park Service urges visitors to stay at least 50 yards from bears, secure all food and trash, and back away slowly if a bear notices them.
- Officials warn that feeding bears or leaving food unsecured trains them to link people with meals, which can trigger aggression and may lead to euthanasia of problem animals.
- Tennessee has approved fines of at least $250 for knowingly feeding bears where warning signs are posted starting in July, a step aimed at cutting conflicts in a park with heavy visitation and a dense bear population.