Wildlife Watching in America's National Parks: A Seasonal Guide

2. April—Black Bears of the Great Smoky Mountains

38 2 { April Black Bears of the Great Smoky Mountains Black bears are generally a difficult animal to see. In most of North America they prefer the deep, dark forests and tend to be more active at night. In places where they are hunted they can become even more reclusive . Yet in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in April the bears are relatively easy to see as they venture out into the greening meadows to feed on the nutritious spring vegetation. The sows are often accompanied by their newborn cubs that—to the delight of the wildlife observer—are usually more interested in playing than in feeding. Combine that with some spectacular scenery, and the sights, sounds, and smells of spring, and the visitor has a fantastic wildlife-viewing opportunity. What’s Remarkable about Black Bears? Black bears are remarkable animals for a variety of reasons, including their ability to hibernate, their voracious appetite, and their powerful bond between mother and cubs. But perhaps the most remarkable feature of black bears is their incredible sense of smell. It’s often stated that bears may have the best sense of smell of any animal on earth, probably several times better than a bloodhound’s and perhaps 100,000 times better than a human’s. Several anatomical features give bears this amazing ability, including: the surface area inside a bear’s nine-inch nostrils is enormous, providing for more olfactory receptors; the nostrils contain hundreds of tiny muscles the bear uses to manipulate the nose for optimal smelling; 39| April–Black Bears of the Great Smoky Mountains bears have a special organ in the roof of the mouth that enhances their sense of smell; and the portion of the bear’s brain that responds to signals from the nose is extremely well developed. This sense of smell is legendary . Consider the adage attributed to American Indians: “a feather fell in the forest; the eagle saw it, the deer heard it, and the bear smelled it.” So prominent is this sense of smell in a bear’s day-to-day activities that it’s as if the nose is the bear, and the rest of the animal is along for the ride (you’ve heard the saying about the “tail wagging the dog”—with bears it seems that the “nose wags the bear”). It’s believed that a bear can detect the scent of food from miles away. That olfactory ability is especially important in early spring as food is still in short supply. If the bear is a sow with newborn cubs it’s even more important that she find food. The cubs in tow may seem more concerned with playing and exploring, Black bears generally stay in the forest. (Photo by Sam Hobbs) Spring 40 | yet their nose and brain are taking it all in and storing it in memory banks for when they need to fend for themselves; the cubs’ success in life will only go as far as their nose will take them. The Bear’s Diet Black bears are “omnivores,” meaning they will eat almost any edible thing they find; however, in the wild a black bear’s diet is about 85 percent vegetable matter. Yet that percentage can vary greatly from place to place and season to season. For example, in places where wolves are present black bears may have more of a meat diet in the form of wolf-killed carrion. Such carrion can be especially important in early spring before “green up.” Once the grasses and forbs emerge the bears readily turn to the nutritious vegetation. In summer the bear’s diet may switch to blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, and other fruits. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park in summer the bears are often found near cherry trees. Grubs, which the bear finds by tearing apart decaying logs, also supplement a black bear’s summer diet. On occasion a black bear will manage to capture a newborn deer fawn or elk calf. In fall the bear’s diet switches to acorns, hickory nuts, and other protein-rich mast, which are perfect for building fat reserves for hibernation. In preparation for the long winter slumber a bear may consume up to 20,000 calories a day. By the time they enter the den they may have doubled their weight from the preceding spring. As winter approaches the bears begin looking for a den. They often...