Feeding wildlife in the park is a federal offense and can result in fines of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.

Feeding bears is not only illegal; it can be extremely dangerous for bears and visitors. Bears learn quickly. Feeding a bear even once can result in that bear becoming conditioned to human food, losing its natural fear of humans. A food-conditioned bear is more likely to be hit by a car as it seeks out human food and may exhibit more aggressive behavior toward visitors. In some cases, feeding a bear ca n result in the euthanasia of the animal. 

GSMNP is home to approximately 1,900 American black bears and is the most visited national park in the United States, with around 12 million visitors each year. This unique combination of high visitation and a thriving bear population increases the likelihood of human-bear encounters, especially when bears venture into developed areas in search of food.  

Currently, bear activity is especially high due to a scarcity of natural food sources combined with the stressors of peak breeding season. During this time, mother bears are also separating from their 18-month-old yearlings, leaving these young bears to navigate survival on their own for the first time. These inexperienced juveniles are more likely to wander into populated areas, increasing the risk of encounters with humans. For this reason, it is important that visitors follow these bear safety guidelines. 

Learn more about black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/black-bears.htm.