The National Park Service announced it is closing off 8 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville until further notice starting Monday. NPS said Blue Ridge officials received multiple documented reports of visitors feeding and attempting to hold a young bear at the Lane Pinnacle Overlook. In response, Blue Ridge Parkway officials are closing off a portion of the scenic route from milepost 367.6 near the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area to milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road. Craggy Gardens recreational area can still be accessed via NC-80 from the north. The visitor center at milepost 364.5 will remain closed. “When people intentionally attract bears with trash and food it can lead to very dangerous situations. In this instance we want to give the bear a chance to lose interest in the area before the situation escalates and visitors or the bear are harmed,” said Superintendent Tracy Swartout.
During the fall months, bears may forage for food for up to 20 hours a day as they prepare for hibernation. This makes them more likely to seek out human food, increasing the risk of encounters with humans.