Aggressive bear activity shutters 3 Smokies in shelters

tThe National Park Service has issued an immediate, temporary closure for three major refuges along the Appalachian Trail corridor within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The decision comes in response to intense and aggressive black bear activity in the backcountry, prompting officials to urge hikers to modify their itineraries and avoid these high-risk areas altogether.

Specific closures affect Mollies Ridge Shelter (NOBO Mile 178), Russell Field Shelter (NOBO Mile 181), and Icewater Springs Shelter (NOBO Mile 211). Park officials have explicitly stated that the closures are absolute, meaning that backpackers are prohibited from using these sites for overnight stays, as well as temporary stops for lunch or rest.

«Respecting bear-related closures like these helps bears return to their natural behavior by eliminating human food sources,» the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) noted in its alert. «Protect yourself, other hikers, and bears by not stopping in closed areas.»

Hikers’ stories about bears

The ATC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the nature of the bear encounters, but a pattern of recent publicly available comments about bear encounters on the AT paints a telling picture.

At Mollies Ridge Shelter, a southbound hiker posted a warning on FarOut on May 4, 2026, writing that a medium to large black bear came to the porch area of ​​the shelter and stole a bag within 10 feet of the shelter. «Fifteen people were screaming and waving their arms. The bear didn’t seem to notice us at all.»

Three recent FarOut comments, from May 16, 17, and 18, respectively, describe bear activity at Russell Field Shelter. The one on May 16 described a bear circling the shelter for almost two hours in the middle of the afternoon on Sunday, May 10. According to the comment, he «responded only intermittently to the campers’ screams and rock throwing, and ran off with one of the campers’ rain jacket,» even returning after dark to within 5 feet of the shelter structure. On May 18, another commenter said a bear «charged at us and got sprayed. He was in the shelter the rest of the night eating leaves from a nearby tree.»

Several commenters also described recent encounters at Icewater Springs Shelter. One, who said they stayed at the shelter all afternoon and all night, posted on May 17 about a yearling they observed hanging around the shelter. «It was coming close, but it would run away if you threw stones and things at it. Night and morning without incident. The rangers have been alerted. They are not aggressive, but they are really interested in the smells of food.»

In a May 20 blog post, Trek blogger Gerjan “Hungry” Hertgers also described a bear encounter at an unspecified Smokies shelter that may have been Russell Field Shelter based on reported mileage. The account is consistent with FarOut’s comments described above: the bear was unfazed by the screams and thrown objects, and briefly attacked hikers in the shelter. He did not take any of the hikers’ food, which was secured on bear poles, but remained near the shelter throughout the night and into the next day.

Interactions with bears in the Smokies

Encounters with bears have also been reported in other parts of the Smokies this spring. At the end of AprilPark rangers responded to several incidents, including a bear that briefly chased a group of visitors near the Ramsey Cascades Trailhead and a bear that bit a visitor who had entered a closed area on the Abrams Falls Trail.

The park’s dense bear population frequently encounters hikers, especially during the peak spring and summer seasons. When bears repeatedly obtain human food from unpeeled snacks, trash, or poorly hung packages, they habituate, lose their natural fear of humans, and often exhibit dangerous behaviors that force wildlife managers to intervene.

Bears also tend to be naturally more active this time of year. «During the spring, black bear activity increases in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Currently, mother bears are emerging from their dens with their cubs in search of limited food sources early in the season,» the Park Service said in its April 20 news release.

To safeguard the trail community, bears, and prevent further habituation of local wildlife, ATC reiterates basic backcountry safety guidelines for anyone currently hiking in the Smokies.

Backpackers must properly use park-provided permanent bear cables at all designated overnight sites to suspend food, trash, and scented toiletries safely out of reach. Hikers should never leave food unattended, even briefly on a trailside rock or picnic bench, and should maintain a spotless campsite by packing out all organic waste, including apple cores and food scraps. Additionally, people should never store food, trash, or wrappers inside a tent under any circumstances.

What to do if you see a bear

Hikers who encounter a bear anywhere on the trail are strongly encouraged to file a detailed report through the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s dedicated reporting service. system. Early reporting allows rangers and trail maintenance clubs to track problem behaviors and implement specific management strategies before permanent closures or lethal measures are necessary.

Featured image: A black bear recently spotted in the Smoky Mountains. Photo via Gerjan “Hungry” Hertgers

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