Great Smoky Mountains National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐻 Black Bears and Elk in Cataloochee

🌍 #193 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #36 in North America #28 in Temperate Forest

Appalachians, United States 543 spp. recorded

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a temperate forest in the southern Appalachian range of the United States. It is known for rolling ridges cloaked in hardwood and spruce‑fir stands, mist that often hangs over the valleys, and a network of shaded trails that weave through old‑growth woods.

35.570° N 83.628° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

80–90% · Very likely

Red Deer

Cervus elaphus

70–80% · Very likely

Red-cheeked Salamander

Plethodon jordani

40–50% · Likely

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

70–80% · Very likely

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

60–70% · Likely

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

40–50% · Likely

Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander

Eurycea wilderae

40–50% · Likely

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

40–50% · Likely

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

80–90% · Very likely

Red Deer

Cervus elaphus

70–80% · Very likely

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

40–50% · Likely

American Red Squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

40–50% · Likely

Woodchuck

Marmota monax

20–30% · Possible

Coyote

Canis latrans

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus

20–30% · Possible

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck

Northern River Otter

Lontra canadensis

10–20% · With luck

American Beaver

Castor canadensis

10–20% · With luck

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

0–10% · With luck

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

0–10% · With luck

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

0–10% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

70–80% · Very likely

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

60–70% · Likely

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

50–60% · Likely

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

40–50% · Likely

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

40–50% · Likely

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

40–50% · Likely

Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebe

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Watersnake

Nerodia sipedon

40–50% · Likely

Eastern Rat Snake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

40–50% · Likely

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

40–50% · Likely

Common Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus undulatus

30–40% · Possible

Common Five-lined Skink

Plestiodon fasciatus

30–40% · Possible

Ringneck Snake

Diadophis punctatus

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

20–30% · Possible

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Worm Snake

Carphophis amoenus

10–20% · Possible

Pond Slider

Trachemys scripta

10–20% · Possible

Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

10–20% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Red-cheeked Salamander

Plethodon jordani

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander

Eurycea wilderae

40–50% · Likely

Spring Salamander

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

40–50% · Possible

Seal Salamander

Desmognathus monticola

30–40% · Possible

Imitator Salamander

Desmognathus imitator

30–40% · Possible

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

30–40% · Possible

Southern Red-backed Salamander

Plethodon serratus

30–40% · Possible

Red Salamander

Pseudotriton ruber

30–40% · Possible

Pygmy Salamander

Desmognathus wrighti

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens

20–30% · Possible

Cherokee Mountain Dusky Salamander

Desmognathus adatsihi

20–30% · Possible

Northern Slimy Salamander

Plethodon glutinosus

10–20% · Possible

Southern Gray-cheeked Salamander

Plethodon metcalfi

10–20% · Possible

Animal Events

🦌

Elk Rut in Cataloochee

SepOct

Bull elk bugle and spar over harems in Cataloochee Valley during the autumn breeding season (rut), peaking .

Red Deer

Cervus elaphus

70–80% · Very likely

🐻

Black Bear Summer Season

JunJulAug

Black bears are at their most visible in summer, feeding heavily on berries and moving with cubs through Cades Cove and forest edges — matching the species' sighting peak.

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

80–90% · Very likely

🦎

Salamander Season

AprMayJun

In the 'Salamander Capital of the World', spring rains bring the park's 30 salamander species out in force along streams and wet trails, from the endemic red-cheeked salamander to the giant hellbender.

Red-cheeked Salamander

Plethodon jordani

40–50% · Likely

Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander

Eurycea wilderae

40–50% · Likely

Hellbender

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

0–10% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

American Black Bear

50–60

30–40

50–60

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

Red-cheeked Salamander

0–10

0–10

20–30

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

30–40

10–20

10–20

White-tailed Deer

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

Northern Cardinal

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

Carolina Chickadee

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

Tufted Titmouse

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

40–50

40–50

30–40

50–60

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander

20–30

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

60–70

50–60

20–30

American Goldfinch

50–60

40–50

30–40

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

30–40

50–60

40–50

Red-bellied Woodpecker

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

20–30

20–30

20–30

40–50

60–70

60–70

50–60

Animal Events

🦌 Elk Rut in Cataloochee

🐻 Black Bear Summer Season

🦎 Salamander Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🐻 Black Bears and Elk in Cataloochee

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

336

🐒 Mammals

86

🦎 Reptiles

53

🐸 Amphibians

68

543 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

17 Threatened 119 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

67%

📊

Coverage (186 species at ≥5% of 543 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

34%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 3 mammal)

47% Global avg

50%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

92

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

5

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

25

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