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General Safety

The following tips may have the familiar ring of Mom’s voice as you take note of them:

Watchwords for Flora & Fauna

Hikers should remain aware of the following concerns regarding plant life and wildlife, described in alphabetical order.

BLACK BEARS: Though attacks by black bears are uncommon, they have occurred around Charlotte. The highest concentration of black bears will be found in the western part of the region that is closest to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and also to the east in the Uwharrie National Forest.

The sight or approach of a bear can give anyone a start, but if you encounter a bear while hiking, remain calm and avoid running in any direction. Make loud noises to scare off the bear, and back away slowly. In primitive and remote areas, assume bears are present; in more developed sites, check on the current bear situation prior to hiking. Most encounters are food-related, as bears have an exceptional sense of smell and not particularly discriminating tastes. While this is of greater concern to backpackers and campers, on a day hike you may plan a lunchtime picnic or will munch on an energy bar or other snack from time to time. So remain alert and be particularly cautious about going on a hike or camping after grilling meat. Often the smoke and the smell will get in your hair and on your clothes, and this has been known to be the cause of bear attacks in the past.