Smoky Mountain Eastern Spotted Skunk

Eastern spotted skunks and their stinky dance are quite a show. Photo credit - National Wildlife Federation

Eastern spotted skunks and their stinky dance are quite a show. Photo credit – National Wildlife Federation

Smoky Mountain Eastern Spotted Skunks give fair warning and provide some interesting acrobatics just before sending out a cloud of noxious spray. When frightened, or angered, the Eastern Spotted Skunk engages in unique behaviors that serves as either a bluff or a warning  just prior to discharging a very unwelcome aromatic spritz. This species, the smaller of the two skunks that make their home in the park, will stomp its front feet in rapid succession on the ground. Perhaps, even more unusual, the skunk may also perform a handstand on its front feet and walk while holding its tail in the air just before aiming and spraying. So, if you encounter either of these behaviors, you have had been forewarned!

Watch out for the spotted skunk when you visit the Smokies! Photo credit - KWCH

Watch out for the spotted skunk when you visit the Smokies! Photo credit – KWCH

Eastern Spotted Skunks are nocturnal and active year-round. Excellent climbers, these skunks are more agile and alert than their striped counterparts, and feed primarily on small mammals, fruits, insects, birds, lizards, snakes, and carrion. The breed is easily distinguished from its Pepe LePew-looking cousin. Weighing in at under three pounds, it has black silky fur, a white triangular spot on the forehead, a white spot under each ear, and four to six undulating white stripes along the neck, back, and sides. White patches are also present on the rump, and a bushy 6-8-inch tail sports a broad white tip. Hunters often trap the species for its’ unique fur. The Eastern Spotted Skunk’s range includes Northeastern Mexico through the Great Plains to the Canadian border, and the Southeastern United States north to Pennsylvania.

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Smoky Mountain Full Beaver Moon

The Smoky Mountain Beaver moon is on the rise!

The Smoky Mountain Beaver moon is on the rise! Photo credit – eyeofhorus

Smoky Mountain Full Beaver Moon is set to rise November 12, 2019. There is no place more special to view the rise of a full moon than Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This month is the famous Beaver Moon.

In ancient times it was common practice for humans to observe and track the changing seasons according to the lunar month instead of the solar year. Our modern calendar is based on the solar year. The ancient peoples of Native American tribes and folks across Europe gave names to the months based on lunar phases observed in the Northern Hemisphere seasons.

You have probably heard the expression, “Busy as a beaver.” There are few times of the year that beavers are more busy than November. With winter fast approaching beavers begin to hoard food and fortify their dwellings. Winter beaver dams are constructed to give additional protection from predators as well. Ancient hunters observed the beaver activity and knew that it was now time for them to prepare for winter too.

This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Beavers make dams of wood and mud. In the middle of the ponds this creates they build dome-shaped homes called lodges with underwater entrances. Beavers continue to grow throughout their lives, and so do their teeth. They constantly gnaw on wood, but because the enamel in a beaver’s incisors contains iron, their front teeth never wear down. Once the beaver dams and lodges were constructed they had a safe refuge for the winter.

Smoky Mountain Beaver Moon will be on the rise soon.

Smoky Mountain Beaver Moon will be on the rise soon. Photo credit – consciousremi der

There once were more than 60 million North American beavers. However, because people have hunted them for fur and their glands for medicine, among other reasons, the beaver population has declined to around 12 million. Beavers have begun to make a come back in the Smoky Mountain region in recent decades and beaver dams and lodges have been detected in the foothills nears Greenbrier.

Beavers don’t get all the credit for the November moon. Other names are the Frost Moon, November Full Moon, Trading Moon, Snow Moon and sometimes the Oak Moon.

Some of our favorite places to view the Beaver Full Moon is Cades Cove, the porch of Oconaluftee Visitors Center, Cataloochee and Clingmans Dome.

 

Smoky Mountain Saint Patrick’s Day Events

Smoky Mountain Saint Patrick's Day Events

Smoky Mountain Saint Patrick’s Day Events

Smoky Mountain Saint Patrick’s Day Events. You don’t need the luck of the Irish to find plenty of fun this Saint Patrick’s Day. These ancient mountains are steeped in Scotch-Irish history and tradition. Even the landscape brings to mind the emerald green hills of Ireland. Here are a few holiday hints that will point you toward your pot of gold on one of our favorite holidays.

The Fox and Parrot Tavern in Gatlinburg offers a variety of delicious holiday craft beers in a friendly atmosphere. This tavern has long been a favorite for locals and for good reason. Their bill of fare boasts such Irish staples as corned beef and cabbage along with other menu items that includes delicious steaks and chicken dishes. Discerning diners will find something to please their palate and can wash it all down with a cold, green beer.

The Facebook group Smoky Mountain Hikertrash is hosting a group hike to beautiful Ramsey Cascades. This amazing waterfall is found in the Greenbrier area of the Smokies and is one of the tallest waterfalls accessible by a maintained trail in the national park. The hike, an eight mile round trip, traverses some of the most beautiful old growth forest in the region. The hike is considered strenuous and participants should be prepared for any type weather. The hike, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019, begins at the Ramsey Cascades trailhead and ends at approximately 4:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring lunch, snacks and water as well as basic hiking essentials.

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5 Great Smoky Mountain Fathers Day Ideas!

Smoky Mountain Fathers Day!

There is no end to the fun on Fathers Day in the Smokies!

5 Great Smoky Mountain Fathers Day Ideas!  Fathers Day in The Great Smoky Mountains is right around the corner on Sunday, June 17, 2018. The Great Smoky Mountains offer so many ways to celebrate Dad’s special day. If your Dad prefers, hiking, biking, fishing, great food or a cold brewski, the forests, towns and valleys located around the park have you covered.

Mountain coasters are a great way to get his adrenaline flowing. The fun begins with a tow to the the top of a mountain and then the rest is up to you and gravity! You control the speed and intensity of your ride. There are multiple coasters in Sevier County for your dad to choose from. Goats On The Roof is easy to find on Wears Valley road in Pigeon Forge and so much fun. If the entire family is not feeling the need for speed they will find spending time with  friendly goats is not too “baaaaaaad!”

Does your dad have a hearty appetite? The Smokies are a great place to sit down for a delicious meal. One of the most sought after foods in the mountains is Rainbow Trout. The iconic Smoky Mountain Trout House has been serving up good eats for decades and is easy to find on the strip in Gatlinburg. Trout can be fried crispy, baked with lemon or anyway you can imagine it. The HeySmokies trout eating team loves the trout almandine with a couple of slices of lemon on the side. No matter what your taste buds have a hankerin’ for you won’t leave hungry!

Satisfy Dad’s sweet tooth in the Smokies. Sooner or later we all need a little sugar pick me up and the selection of sweet treats in the Smokies is sensational. Take a stroll down the strip in Gatlinburg to the Ole’ Smoky Candy Kitchen. The entire family will enjoy watching the vintage taffy stretching machine roll out sweet treats that have brought a smile to families faces for decades.

Saddle up for some Smoky Mountain trail riding! What better way to experience the Smokies than riding a trail with a personal guide. Jayell Ranch in Sevierville has miles of trails and the expert guides you need to have a safe and exciting equestrian experience. The view from the saddle is like no other in the mountains and those that give it a try, return to ride again and again.

Take a hike! When it is time to stretch your legs the possibilities are limitless in the Smokies. With over 900 miles of trails you can choose from a walk in a lush hardwood cove forest in Greenbrier or a high elevation hike on the the famous Appalachian Trail. Many say that hiking is the perfect way to celebrate with dad. You never know what you will find when you step into the wild lands of the Smokies. It is not unusual to see bear, turkeys or maybe even an elk or two. Remember to take only photographs and leave only footprints.

Bonus tip: After spending an awesome day in the Smokies, when the sun is setting low and you want to make sure your dad knows how important he is to you take a moment to give him a great big HeySmokies bear hug! They are free and possibly the best Fathers Day gift ever invented.

 

 

 

 

 

Five Great Smoky Mountain Fishing Spots

Smoky Mountain fishing is fun for the whole family.

Cast your line in the Smoky Mountains for the catch of a lifetime!

Five Great Smoky Mountain Fishing Spots. Smoky Mountain Fishing is one of the most popular activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies have over two thousand miles of streams and rivers within the park boundary.  If you are ready for the challenge, fishing opportunities abound in the Smokies.

Anglers from around the globe visit the park to test their skills in our pristine waters. If you are a novice or a seasoned pro you will be hollerin’ “Fish On” before you know it.  Folks often ask HeySmokies, “What kind of fish do you have in the Smoky Mountains?” The five most common game fish in the Smokies are Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Each of these beauties are a thrill to catch. The HeySmokies fly rod squad agrees that the most beautiful fish we ever caught is the one on the end of our line right now!

The HeySmokies fly rod squad has trekked across the Smokies from end to end over the years and we know where the fish tend to be biting. For those who are unfamiliar with the park here are a few fishing destinations you will want to explore. If you are after Smallmouth bass and Rock bass a couple of good places to begin would be the Big Pigeon River on eastern edge of the park. The Pigeon is easily accessed in Hartford, TN via Interstate 40. The Waterville road I – 40 exit, five miles south of Hartford near Big Creek, is another spot with easy access. If you are after trout you can’t go wrong in Big Greenbrier five miles east of Gatlinburg. Porters Creek and the middle prong of the Little Pigeon river are popular spots in “Big G.” If you plan to visit the North Carolina side of Smokies make plans to cast a line in Cataloochee near Maggie Valley or Deep Creek near Bryson City. Both places offer solitude and a sense of immersion in the mountains.

Brook Trout is the only species of trout native to the Smoky Mountains. This fish is known as “spec” or “speckled trout” by Smoky Mountain natives and is one of the most elusive and difficult to catch. Many anglers are not aware that spec is not a true trout but a “char.” The historic range of char stretches from Canada to north Georgia. “Brookies” in the Smokies usually have a life span of less than three years and rarely grow larger than 8 – 9 inches.

Brown Trout are the largest game fish species in the national park. Primarily found in the

Trout fishing in the Smokies!

Deciding which stream to fish may be the most difficult thing about angling in the Smokies!

lower elevation streams, they thrive in slow moving water with good cover and lot’s of hiding spots. “Brownies” were brought to the the United States from Europe and compete with other species in the Smokies. They are long lived and it is not uncommon for them to survive up to twelve years. The majority caught in the Smokies are six to twelve inches in length and have been known to become thirty inches long weighing eleven pounds. Can you imagine the feeling of reeling in one of those bad boys?

Rainbow Trout are the most common game fish in the Smokies and are highly prized by anglers. Rainbows are found in almost every stream in the national park and are recognized by their familiar pink-toned stripe on their side. Like Brownies, Rainbows are not native to the Smokies, they were introduced from stock in the Northwestern United States. They were released into our mountain streams by logging companies in the early 1900’s. Most Rainbows reeled in by anglers are six to ten inches in length with an average age of three to five years. It is extremely rare to find rainbow trout over twelve inches in length.

Smallmouth bass and rock bass inhabit the lowest elevation streams and rivers in the Smokies on the borders of the park. They prefer cool deeper pools and shaded areas near the banks of the river. These species are native to the Great Lakes region and the Mississippi river. Smallmouth bass are the largest of the two and are usually six to fourteen inches in length. Their lifespan is five to seven years and a five pounder is considered a trophy fish. Rockbass are smaller in size ranging from four to eight inches in length but occasionally reach up to ten inches. Their typical life span is six to eight years.

Bonus angler tip: Did you know only one fishing license is required to fish Great Smoky Mountains National Park? With roughly half the park in North Carolina and the other in Tennessee a valid license from either state gives you total access to over 500,000 square miles of fishing heaven. As if you needed another reason to come fish with us!