“A Blustery Day in Cades Cove” - Cades Cove Closed Yesterday Due to Downed Trees

“A Blustery Day in Cades Cove”

Cades Cove Closed Yesterday Due to Downed Trees

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Yesterday was blustery in Cades Cove, Tennessee, so much so that the Cove shut down to keep everyone safe.

The wind was so strong that it knocked me to and fro. I have never been in such strong wind. I can’t imagine what the wind gusts were.

I spent hiking, and I found two does eating seed pods. This photo is not spectacular, but I wanted to tell the story of the strong wind by choosing a photo that showed leaves flying everywhere. 

 As I was traveling down Hyatt Lane, I noticed a long line of cars near Dan Lawson. I thought it was a bear jam and decided to turn around. I was so excited because there weren’t many cars!

Once I got to the Visitor Center, I noticed cars were going up Loop Road the wrong way and parking in the parking lot.

I talked to two of my favorite volunteers, Nancy and Dave, and found out Cades Cove Loop Road and Laurel Creek Road were closed due to downed trees that had fallen on the road. There was also an injury and property damage which I assumed were cars.

Well, when given lemons, make lemonade. I saw two photography friends I hadn’t seen in a year. We had a picnic in their car and chatted. My friend stayed in the car with their older dog while her husband and I walked down the open road to hike and see if we saw any critters. 

The only interesting we saw were three Wooly Bear caterpillars crossing the road. They would have probably gotten squished if the cars were

 traveling on the road.

By the time we got back, the road was clear, and everyone had to exit the Cove.

I have several videos of the day on my Instagram account if you would like to see the fall color and a video of the wind. I also took pano shots of the mountains:) Visit my Instagram.

Were you there yesterday?

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A Good Ole’ Fashion Whoopin’

“Black Bear Cub Gets a Good Ole’ Fashion Whoopin’”

The Rest of the Story – Part II

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Last week someone requested I post another photo of the sleeping bear in Cades Cove, so here it is. The incident caused the biggest “bear jam.” My story told of the bears getting bored because the mamma bear did not want to share the walnuts she cracked open.

One cub learned the lesson of not bothering mamma’s food the hard way and got a good ‘ole fashion whoopin.’ The swift discipline happened in the blink of an eye with no warning. Leaves were flying!

I did not think but just held down the camera’s shutter and took a series of photos. Meanwhile, the sleeping cub raised his head to check out the commotion.

Terror could be seen in the disciplined bear’s eyes as mamma’s claws dug into his fur. It was a moment he will never forget.

I wish I could see her head to see what she was doing. Maybe she was giving him a firm bite. At least I got the expression on the cub’s face.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It’s Their Home

“It’s Their Home”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Late yesterday afternoon in Cades Cove turned into a long line of cars because a bear family stayed in the road. One cub even tried to sleep on the road.

The line of cars backed up to the entrance to Cades Cove Loop Road. I didn’t want to get in the traffic but decided to in hopes of photographing bears. To make the situation merrier, I turned on Christmas music and had a jolly ride.

The staff tried to manage the problem the best they could to keep the bears and visitors safe. 

One by one, visitors managed their cars as instructed by the staff. Some had to stop or move their car around the bears.

Others honked their horns as directed to encourage the bears to move.

The mamma bear was not excited to share the walnuts she cracked open. One cub was scolded with a sudden snare and body pounce as he got too close to her meal. So, the cubs were bored and wandered around or rested.

Two cubs started trotting down the road. People were scattered around so they cleared the way. Soon mamma bear and another cub pursued. They walked down the road to another walnut tree. The mamma ate as two cubs climbed the tree. The excitement ended as they walked into the woods and disappeared.

We as visitors can’t complain about the long line of cars. I sat in it for at least an hour. Cades Cove is their home—we are just visitors. 

Now you know the rest of the story. 

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Monarchs Falling From Heaven

“Monarchs Falling From Heaven”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I am in love with monarch butterflies and have been since I started raising them.

While I was in Cades Cove on Friday, I found a patch of white flowers. There were monarchs everywhere! I gasped and almost started crying.

 It was as if they were dropping out of the sky from nowhere. The monarchs are migrating to Mexico and must have crossed over the mountain and said, “Look, there is Cades Cove! Let’s go there!”

Have you seen them migrating through in the last few weeks?

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

“Snap, Crackle, Pop!”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

A baby black bear was high in the cherry trees in Cades Cove, Tennessee. He was so high a mountain was visible in the background.

The mamma bear and her cubs enjoyed feasting on the cherries for quite a while. Mamma bear ripped apart the large limbs with her mouth, so she could pull the branch loaded with cherries within reach.

Amazingly, the bears know which branches will hold their weight. Meanwhile, they were snapping and crackling the branches and popping the cherries in their mouths.

Have you ever seen the bears up so high?

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Time Has Come

“The Time Has Come”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Spring, summer, and early fall are always my busiest seasons of the year. I am already active with my wildlife and nature photography, especially photographing black bears. But the activity that keeps me busiest is raising monarch caterpillars.

I am doing whatever possible to save the monarchs. If it means going into tall fields and collecting eggs while I get tons of chiggers, I’ll do it. By the way, that happened this summer.

But the time has come for them to start their migration to the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. Millions of monarchs will congregate there for the winter. One day, I will meet them there!

People wonder how they make that long, arduous journey when they seem so fragile. Well, I know the answer—it is God. He created all the critters I so enjoy. God wired them to know where to go to escape the cold winter in Eastern North America.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Keep your eye to the sky. Have you seen them? If so, where?