Food Storage

[Cadenza]

In areas where hunting is prohibited, GSMNP, etc. bears learn to view humans as a food source.
That's when they become dangerous.

Hunting is legal in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests and bears that do not fear people don't last long.
If you see a bear here it is usually from the rear end as it is making tracks away from you.

Troublesome animals that don't seem to be mentioned as often are raccoons and otters.
The most frustrating experience I ever had in the woods involved otters.

While eating grilled trout and roasted corn-on-the cob by the fire we had otters literally come into camp from the shadows to snatch food and run. While one otter drew our attention,....we were shining flashlights and seeing reflective eyes and trying to figure what kind of animal this was,....other otters were working in concert to sneak in from the backside and steal more stuff. They had us surrounded! Their system was to draw our attention while others made off with the loot. They toyed with us for 15 minutes until they had stolen almost all our food, one item at a time.

Looking back on it now,.....it was comical. At the time,....not so much.

[TNhiker]

Now that's funny...

i haven't seen any of the smokies otters....

and what hat ive noticed, in the more remote areas, the Bears will typically run away......

in the more popular sites---that's when they become a nuisance...

and by way of the hunting in the national forest, and those trails being less traveled ---the Bears in the national forest near the GSMNP are much more skittish.....:

[Sarcasm the elf]

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