Tourists misbehaving with bear close stretch of Blue Ridge Parkway in NC, rangers say
Bear “interactions” have closed an 8-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, officials said.
The road, popular for scenic drives in the fall, is shut down near Asheville “after multiple documented reports of visitors feeding and attempting to hold a young bear” at the Lane Pinnacle Overlook, park rangers said in a news release.
A photo shared on Facebook shows a bear along a railing as several onlookers stand on a nearby sidewalk.
The temporary closure started Oct. 30 and will last until further notice. It applies to a stretch from “milepost 367.6 near the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area to milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road. Park visitors can access Craggy Gardens recreational area via NC80 from the north; however, until the road reopens, the visitor center at milepost 364.5 will remain closed.”
In North Carolina, bears are found in the western and eastern parts of the state. Though bears tend to stay away from people, “unnatural food sources” can cause them to be more comfortable around humans, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
“When people intentionally attract bears with trash and food it can lead to very dangerous situations,” park superintendent Tracy Swartout wrote in the release. “In this instance we want to give the bear a chance to lose interest in the area before the situation escalates and visitors or the bear are harmed.”
The shutdown comes at a time when bears are looking for food as they prepare to hibernate.
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. It’s a popular place for viewing fall foliage, and colorful leaves could be seen at lower elevations as of Oct. 22.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published October 30, 2023 at 2:47 PM with the headline "Tourists misbehaving with bear close stretch of Blue Ridge Parkway in NC, rangers say."
