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North America’s Top Wilderness Areas for Bear Encounters

Most Bear-Infested Forests
Screenshot from "Intense Battle Between 2 HUGE Brown Bears" Source: Reddit, Uploaded: ThatsInsane.

Large tracts of wildness, brimming with bears, can be found throughout North America. From the salmon-rich streams of Katmai in Alaska, these bear-infested forests offer unique opportunities to observe one of the continent’s most iconic species in their natural habitats.

Introduction

grizzly bear
Young Grizzly bear. Image via Depositphotos

These are the top five woods, all well-known for having sizable bear populations, exciting wildlife encounters for tourists, and important bear sanctuaries. Here are the 5 Most Bear-Infested Forests in North America.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

black bear
Black bear. Image via Depositphotos

One of the most well-known black bear habitats in North America is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is situated on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. It is a popular site for wildlife enthusiasts because bear sightings are frequently reported by visitors along the park’s trails and in isolated regions. The park contains abundant trees and diverse biodiversity, making it the perfect habitat for bears, with an estimated two bears per square mile.

2. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone
Image of Yellowstone national park via Pexels

Yellowstone National Park, which spans Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is well-known for its grizzly and black bear populations. Bears thrive in the park because of its large wilderness regions and plenty of food supplies, like fish and berries. Visitors are urged to keep their distance and store food in bear-proof containers due to the regular activity of bears in the area.

3. Katmai National Park and Preserve

Ruling the landscape, brown bears of Kamchatka (Ursus arctos beringianus). Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Image by riverriver on depositphotos.

Brown bears are the main attraction of Katmai, southern Alaska; these bears concentrate near Brooks River to fish for salmon. A rare chance to witness bear behaviour in the wild is offered by the park, particularly during the yearly salmon runs. There are platforms where guests can safely get up close and personal with these amazing animals—bears.

4. Banff National Park

grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear in Banff. Image by jill@ghostbear.org via Depositphotos

In Alberta, Canada’s Banish National Park is a great place to see grizzly and black bears. Bears are drawn to the park during the warmer months because of its thick forests and profusion of berry crops. To prevent close encounters, it’s crucial to keep a bear awareness while trekking or camping and to secure all attractants.

5. Kootznoowoo Wilderness

Most Bear-Infested Forests
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) swimming in a river. Image via depositphotos.

Kootznoowoo Wilderness, also called Admiralty Island, is located in Southeast Alaska and has one of the greatest numbers of brown bears in the world. The island’s significance as a bear habitat is highlighted by its name, which translates to “Fortress of the Bears” in Tlingit. Its mostly unspoiled environment makes it an ideal setting for nature photography and bear viewing.

Types of Bears in North America

Bears
Brown Bears. Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Now, you may be wondering what types of bears live in these forests; let’s explore!

American Black Bear

black bear
A female black bear with her cub walking on a hillside in Yellowstone National Park. Image via Depositphotos

The American Black Bear is North America’s most common bear species, found from Canada to Mexico. It is adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, mountains, and swamps. Black bears are generally less aggressive than grizzlies, and their diet includes plants, fruits, nuts, and occasionally small mammals.

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly bear in typical landscape of tundra in Denali NP, Alaska, US. Image by roussien on depositphotos.

Grizzly bears, known as North American brown bears, are larger and more aggressive than their black bear cousins. They are primarily found in Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the northwestern United States. Grizzlies are distinguished by their powerful physique, humped shoulders, and deeply dished face.

Brown Bear

brown bear
Brown bear standing on a log. Image via Depositphotos

“Brown bear” is often used interchangeably with “grizzly bear” in North America. They are the same bears!

Wrapping Up

Ruling the landscape, brown bears of Kamchatka (Ursus arctos beringianus)

In conclusion, these forests and bear species play crucial roles in North America’s ecosystems, attracting wildlife enthusiasts and researchers worldwide to observe and study their complex behaviors and interactions in natural habitats.

Conclusion

Black Bear
American Black Bear. Image via Depositphotos

Which one of these 5 Most Bear-Infested Forests will you visit next? Next Up: