ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have issued warnings and at least one closure because of increased activity by bears foraging for scarce food.
Park spokeswoman Dana Soehn tells the Citizen-Times in Asheville that typical bear food such as acorns and grapes are in short supply this year.
The home page for the park straddling North Carolina and Tennessee prominently features an “Increased Bear Activity” warning. The warning applies to more than a dozen trails, campsites and other areas. At least one campsite is temporarily closed.
Dana Dodd of the Tennessee-based Appalachian Bear Rescue said the acorn crop is really low in certain areas. She said a plentiful crop last year resulted in lots of cubs being born, which is compounding this year’s food scarcity.
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