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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Parks Traveler Episode 154: Chasing The Smokies Moon

Chasing the Smokies Moon at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the great hiking destinations in the mid-Atlantic region, if not the entire East Coast. Across its rumpled 522,427 acres there are more than 800 miles of trails. They range from relatively short footpaths to scenic payoffs like Rainbow Falls and Abrahams Falls to the more than 70 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail that crosses the top of the park.

Asheville Bears Are Heavier And Having Cubs Earlier Than Rural Bears

Earlier this year there was an incident in Asheville, North Carolina, where a black bear attacked a couple and their dog. Black bears have become a common sight in the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and a recent study found that not only are bears near Asheville larger than in more remote areas but also give birth earlier than other bears. In the following article, David Frey, managing editor at The Wildlife Society, goes through the details of the study.

Traveler's Audio Postcards From The Parks: Hog Wild

Feral hogs are a growing problem for the National Park Service.
Feral hogs are just one of several species of invasive mammals that are posing immense challenges for national park managers. Unlike invasive insects or reptiles, invasive mammals are often larger and more “charismatic” animals, difficult for parks to eradicate from a logistical, financial, and emotional perspective. Contributing writer Kim O'Connell goes in search of wild hogs at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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