A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed after several people fed and attempted to hold a young bear over the last few weeks at the Lane Pinnacle Overlook.
The eight mile section of the parkway will be closed until further notice from milepost 367.6 near the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area to milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road. The Craggy Gardens visitor center is also closed.
“We are closing this section of the road temporarily for the safety of both the bear and park visitors,” said Superintendent Tracy Swartout in a press release.
“When people intentionally attract bears with trash and food it can lead to very dangerous situations," Swartout said. "In this instance we want to give the bear a chance to lose interest in the area before the situation escalates and visitors or the bear are harmed.”
Craggy Gardens can still be accessed via NC 80 from the north.
In the fall, bears are preparing for their winter hibernation. This season for bears is called hyperphagia, according to Bearwise. During this crucial time, the mammals eat ten times the calories that they usually consume totaling at least 20,000 calories per day.
Here are some tips to make sure your home is bear-safe during this season.
When out in the woods and on the parkway, it is advised to remain at least 50 yards away from bears.
In August, a Great Smoky Mountains Road was closed after a visitor was scratched by a bear.
