Pretty Hollow Gap Bear Encounter

[TNWoodsman]

Spent this past weekend in the Smokies climbing Mt. Sterling and then hiking down via Pretty Hollow Gap and camping on the river. Around 3pm one afternoon we had a visitor. This fella hung around until we left camp the following morning. The bear wasn't aggressive but he was persistent. Every time we chased him away, he would come back a short time later. Always just on the edge of camp. I have seen many bears in the backcountry through the years but they typically run off so quickly it is hard to get a photo. Didn't have that problem with this guy. Also added a bear print photo from another trip two weeks before. Enjoy!

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[GilligansWorld]

Spent this past weekend in the Smokies climbing Mt. Sterling and then hiking down via Pretty Hollow Gap and camping on the river. Around 3pm one afternoon we had a visitor. This fella hung around until we left camp the following morning. The bear wasn't aggressive but he was persistent. Every time we chased him away, he would come back a short time later. Always just on the edge of camp. I have seen many bears in the backcountry through the years but they typically run off so quickly it is hard to get a photo. Didn't have that problem with this guy. Also added a bear print photo from another trip two weeks before. Enjoy!

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I am not familiar with too many bear encounters here but I believe you should report this to a ranger as I have never heard of a bear that wouldn't scare from camp- is this typical? I wonder if this bear is habituated since you couldn't scare it off. Might let a ranger know??

[TNWoodsman]

I am not familiar with too many bear encounters here but I believe you should report this to a ranger as I have never heard of a bear that wouldn't scare from camp- is this typical? I wonder if this bear is habituated since you couldn't scare it off. Might let a ranger know??

No, not typical. Given the bear's behavior, it is likely he'd been fed. He behaved very similar to a stray dog that will get close enough to you for a toss of food but will run if you approach. By happenstance, we met a backcountry ranger near our trailhead and he hiked and camped with us for the better part of the trip. He was with us when the bear arrived and called it in to his dispatch immediately. They closed the backcountry site the following day in the hopes the bear will re-acclimate and move on. Handsome bear and I hope he moves on. I'm sure the rangers will do everything they can even if it means relocating him. Good reminder that a "Fed bear equals dead a bear."

[johnspenn]

I love seeing wildlife, including venomous snakes and bears, but I don't know if I could get comfortable knowing there was a bear just "hanging around" my hammock hang!

[mountain wanderer]

I've never had a bear hang around and want to pull up a chair by the fire.... and I am thankful for that. Don't know how much sleep I would get knowing that he was out there on the perimeter of camp.

[TNWoodsman]

Given the river noise and rain on tarp, I couldn’t hear a thing all night. Wasn’t too uncomfortable haha!

[Ohoopee]

We saw one on deep creek trail about ten days ago. A friend had pics
of one he saw on Rabun gap the same weekend. Didn't act like the one
you saw.

[Shug]

Time for the bear helmet when snoozing~~~
Shug

[outdoorsguy]

I hike and camp alone, and this is the reason I've started carrying bear spray,. It's 8 oz of insurance. Although the chances of this happening to me are astronomical against, with my luck....

[TNWoodsman]

I hike and camp alone, and this is the reason I've started carrying bear spray,. It's 8 oz of insurance. Although the chances of this happening to me are astronomical against, with my luck....

Can’t argue with that. We were a party of 7. The ranger we met spends 5 day stretches at a time in the backcountry armed with 9mm sidearm, 3 mags, a small can of mace, and a sizeable knife strapped to his pack. He related that he is very often camping solo and almost always patroling (hiking) alone. Funny thing is, he carries all of this for humans not bears.