There are countless trails that you can explore from Skyline Drive
It’s hard to beat the Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall. This photo is from the iconic Skyline Drive, which is the main artery that runs through Shenandoah National Park. I should specify that Skyline Drive is the main artery if you are driving. The main artery if you are hiking is the famous Appalachian Trail.
The ~105-mile-long Skyline Drive provides visitors with effortless views as it crosses the mountain ridges. There are countless trails that you can explore from Skyline Drive. In January, Wild Boyz Photography featured a story about the whitetail deer in Shenandoah National Park.
The first national park was established in 1872. That was Yellowstone National Park. Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935. During this time, the park had very few black bears. Data from 1937 reveals two black bears were reported. By 1944, there were estimated to be ten black bears in the park. By the 1950’s, there were estimated to be 75 black bears in the park. Today the number of black bears in the park ranges from low hundreds to high hundreds. This population increase is attributed to better management and changing ecological conditions.
The bears in Shenandoah National Park generally go into their dens in October or November. I was visiting during October, and this was on my mind as I was hiking. On one hike, a group passed me on the trail and mentioned there was a black bear just ahead. I never saw the bear, but it may have seen me. If ever approached by a black bear, the conventional wisdom has been to make eye contact, make yourself look big, and make noise. This is black bear specific. Always carry bear spray. If you are counting on outrunning a black bear, know that they can run 30 miles an hour!
Today the number of black bears in the park ranges from low hundreds to high hundreds
Did you know?
- There are over 500 miles of trails within Shenandoah National Park!
- Male black bears typically weigh 100-300 pounds, while female black bears typically weigh between 100-175 pounds.
- It is estimated there are 5,000-6,000 black bears in the state of Virginia.
- Black bears are most active at dawn and dusk.
- British Columbia has black bears that actually have all white fur.
- Black bears are omnivores. They will eat salmon and other fish species as well as berries, grasses, roots, insects. They will also eat deer, moose, and even other black bears.
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