Wildlife

About 1,500 black bears live in the park. Females usually weigh about 100 lbs and males weigh 250, though bears as large as 600 have been found here.

Bobcats, thought to be the only felines that live in the park, are solitary, reclusive creatures.

This member of the dog family is highly adaptable, surviving in many different habitats across the country. Here, coyotes are most active at night.

The park’s largest animal, elk can weigh 700 pounds and reach 5 feet at the shoulder.

The national park and parts of North Carolina are on one of the natural migration routes. Learn more about the annual monarch-tagging event.

The general rule is to stay 50 yards away from bears. Never feed wild animals because it may cause them to lose their fear of humans. Watch this video

For about two weeks each year, Elkmont in Great Smoky becomes the site of the most magnificent synchronized firefly gathering in the world.

Thirty species of salamanders can be found in and around the creeks in the park, from the 3-foot-long hellbender to the 2-inch-long pygmy salamander.

There are many types of animals in the Great Smoky Mountains, but dense forests can make them difficult to spot. Here’s a guide to better your chances.

White-tailed deer are common throughout the park’s woods and meadows, where they graze on grasses, fruits, and acorns.