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The bear that was reported at Carden’s Bluff Campground last week has been captured. The campground re-opens to the public today.
On June 16, there were reports of aggressive bear activity and evidence of bears entering the campgrounds and taking food and garbage, including food that had been stored in an unoccupied tent. When camping, make sure to:
• Throw away all trash in an approved receptacle. Don’t leave anything behind and do not burn food scraps or other trash in fire rings.
• Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and stay together.
• Make noise so that bears can avoid you.
• Keep food and other attractants in a locked vehicle, bear-resistant container or hung from a tree at least 12 feet off the ground and 6 feet away from the trunk or limbs.
• Never store food, garbage, or any other attractants in a tent.
U.S. Forest Service officials are also warning visitors to be on the lookout for black bears and be BearWise. Visitors are reminded of the Forest Order for the entire Cherokee National Forest that prohibits possessing or leaving food, bear attractant, or refuse unless it is possessed properly or stored properly. The Order was issued to provide for visitor safety and the conservation of bears and to help ensure that recreational areas can safely remain open to Forest visitors. If black bears are unable to successfully acquire human food or garbage in a recreational area the likelihood of human-bear conflicts are greatly reduced.
Black bears in the wild are opportunistic, feeding on whatever is readily available. Food odors and improperly stored garbage will attract bears to campsites and picnic areas, even when humans are around. Though bears are naturally afraid of humans, bears habituated to human food can begin to associate human scents with the reward of food. Due to this, bears can become a threat to humans, property, and themselves. Being BearWise helps people live responsibly with black bears.