“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
