Mammals: Black Bears
Black bear are seen along the length of the Appalachian Trail, with the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks being two places where they are most commonly spotted by hikers.
Black bears do not truly hibernate, but spend long periods sleeping through the winter. Though a meat-eater, black bear also eat large amounts of grass and other ground plants. They also dig roots and bulbs and feed each fall on blueberries, blackberries and other wild fruits. They will hunt for small mammals including mice, but will also eat animals killed by other predators.
Bears must never be fed or petted. They can be particularly aggressive when protecting cubs and should not be approached. If you spot a bear, you can almost always frighten it away by making loud noise. Hanging up a bag each night with your food and other "smellables" in it will keep bears (and other animals) from rummaging through your pack or tent in search of food. The main problem hikers face with bears however is that they do not see them as often as they would like to.
White-tailed Deer - Beavers - Moose - Black Bears - Feral Ponies - Porcupines
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