I like to fish and hike in the Smokies, although unfortunately I haven’t had enough time to enjoy these leisurely activities, I still have come across some wildlife in the Smokies. Whether it be a stroll around Cades Cove to find fields full of deer, bears roaming in the fields or perched in the trees, or even a peacock sitting on a log railing of a cabin while showing property….You might not believe me, because I could hardly believe my own eyes wondering what in the world was it doing there. But I have the unedited photograph to prove it!
While that was quite the sight, I definitely prefer to see other animals out in their natural habitat. I have come across more bear than I could count while visiting Cades Cove, especially during the summer months. I have sit in many “bear jams” waiting for the tourists to move out of the road when viewing a bear.
On our wedding day in Cades Cove at the Missionary Baptist Church, my wife was traveling with her parents to get to the church for our wedding. I had explicit instructions on the time I was to arrive for pictures. I had to arrive before Brooke and her family for photos so I couldn’t see Brooke before our wedding. I was on time and all of the pictures were completed, but still no sign of Brooke. I wasn’t getting worried that she was getting cold feet, but was worried something may have happened. There are absolutely no cell phone signals in that area of the park, so I could not reach them on the phone either. About 20 minutes later I had notice of their arrival. They got stuck in a “bear jam”. According to Brooke’s parents, her dad (who was driving) said “If you wanna see a bear go to the darn zoo!!! We are going to be late”. As Sam was finally driving by, Kay (Brooke’s mom) hollered at Sam to “slow down I want to get a picture!” Well, she got the picture and I got lots of laughs out of their story. I guess it isnt the tourists alone that create a “bear jam” – nearly everyone would enjoy the sight of a bear.
One of my clients I have been working with encountered a large bear on Newport Highway on his way out of town and he was so thrilled when he called me he couldn’t stand it! I guess that is one of the advantages of living in a beautiful place like I do – you just never know what you will see!
Brooke’s papaw, who has lived in New Center (a town just to the east of Sevierville) his whole life swears he has seen a “painter” (what the locals call a mountain lion) recently. Knowing him, he is not one to joke around about something like that, so I certainly believe him. The park service says they are extinct, but I have a hard time believing it. When I was building log homes one of the carpenters I worked with used to go up to Tellico frequently and has seen them there and talked to a park official who has confirmed sightings. So, although your odds of seeing one are EXTREMELY rare, I would not say its an impossibility.
So next time you travel to the Smoky Mountains, I hope you have the fortune of seeing at least some of the wildlife I have seen – deer, bear, wild turkey, fox, wild boar, elk, coyote, and maybe even a “painter” or peacock!
Below is a sample of some wildlife I have taken photos of while in the Smokies!
