More Than I Can Bear
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86575)
United States
October 22, 2020 8:53pm CST
Today I set a new one-day record for bear sightings in the Smokies.
Five.
There was a sixth one, I know (since three of them were cubs....that means mama was nearby), but I didn’t see her.
All of them were on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, too.
Before I hit the one-way part of the trail there was a big ol’ honkin’ bear loping around in the woods, clearly visible from the road. About a mile further down a park ranger was keeping watch over a second bear (that’s common...they monitor the Bear and the traffic, so neither gets out of hand).
Then, thanks to eagle-eyed people in the car ahead of me, the jackpot hit near the end of the trail. Down in the creek that meanders through the last half of the trail, there were three cubs playing happily in the water.
In the photo you can see two of them playing around. The third one was running in and out of the scene. Almost like it found a great place to jump into the water and swim down to the spot where they had congregated.
It was hardly more than I could “bear,” seeing so many of them today!!!
7 people like this
8 responses
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
23 Oct 20
I saw so many elk at Smokemont the last time I was on that side of the park I thought I had stumbled onto an elks convention! 
2 people like this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
23 Oct 20
@FourWalls I remember when I was a little girl and visiting the Smoky Mountains with my parents, we always saw bears. Now, you are lucky if you catch one. We haven't seen one in our last 5 trips in the last couple of years.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
23 Oct 20
@kareng — I think I got a dozen people’s quotas for seeing them this year. 
2 people like this
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
23 Oct 20
Wow!
I'm sure mama bear won't be thrilled to see people eyeing her cubs.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
23 Oct 20
I know, but thankfully that was from quite a distance. It was maybe 50-70 feet down an embankment, plus further out into the creek. Perfect viewing distance for all involved.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Oct 20
The cubs had to be very fun to watch.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
23 Oct 20
What a cool sighting. Always remember to keep your distance though! Especially when there's a momma with cubs.
2 people like this
@erictsuma (9725)
• Mombasa, Kenya
23 Oct 20
You enjoyed your day my friend. I used to go to the national parks but this year was impossible for me due to the pandemic.
1 person likes this
