All You Need to Know About Snakes in the Smoky Mountains

Yes, there are 23 species of snakes found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but only 2 of them are poisonous; so don’t let that keep you from getting out and enjoying a walk in the woods this summer. Here’s all you need to know about snakes in the Smoky Mountains and how to stay safe in the great outdoors!

HeySmokies’ recent video on Facebook (see below) of a timber rattlesnake at Gregory Bald created quite a reaction from fans, so we thought some helpful tips were in order so that both snakes and humans can enjoy soaking up the summer sun without fear.

It’s true that one of us at HeySmokies has the unfounded fear that all snakes just lie waiting in the forest to ambush the passerby. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth! Generally, snakes are reclusive and elusive creatures rarely seen by park visitors; however, one of us at HeySmokies is still always asked to go first and be on “snake patrol.” All of this leads us to our first tip: Just use common sense. Be mindful of your surroundings and where you are placing your feet and your hands (and your bum if you have the calling!)

The Timber Rattlesnake, which has the most toxic venom of the two poisonous species, will often give you a loud warning with his rattle if you get too close. You may not hear this if you are hiking with your earbuds blasting out your favorite song. Keep children close and be mindful where they are stepping. When walking through the high grass on a mountain bald it can be hard to see where you are putting your feet; there may be other critters you can’t see enjoying the view too. Wear the proper footwear, it should be obvious that a bite on the foot while wearing flip-flops could be trouble so sturdy hiking boots are a plus. Snakes often lie in the warm leaf litter against fallen trees on the trail so be careful when stepping on and over downed trees.

Continue reading…

Giant Hogweed Invades Smoky Mountain Region

Giant Hogweed Invades Smoky Mountain Region. Giant Hogweed looms large on it’s march toward the Smokies. Giant Hogweed can reach up to 20-feet in height and is considered extremely dangerous. It can cause 3rd degree burns and blindness. Typically found in multiple places along the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and now near the Smoky Mountains. Recently Virginia Tech researchers have identified Giant Hogweed in Clarke County Virginia and Wautauga County, North Carolina near the Tennessee line. According to Diane Watwick, Urban Watershed Forester for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Forestry, there have been no reported or confirmed sightings of the infamous plant in East Tennessee to date.

Hogweed bears a striking resemblance to Queen Anne’s lace on steroids and is sometimes mistaken for elderberry or cow parsnips-both of which look similar and grow readily in the Smoky Mountain region but rarely exceed 6-feet in height.

Hogweed, whose growth period last from mid May thru July, features huge spiky leaves, which can measure 5-feet in width, and a umbrella-shaped cluster of white flower heads that may exceed 2-5 feet in diameter. According to the USDA Forest Services, USDA and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Giant Hogweed can also be identified by unusual 2-4 inch diameter hollow stems that feature hairy bristles and maroon spots.

Contact with the plant’s clear watery sap can prove disastrous. Symptoms, which can take from 3-5 days to appear, include painful fluid-filled blisters resembling burns, and phytophotodermatitis, which can make skin sensitive to ultraviolet light for years following exposure to Hogweed’s broken stems, roots, flowers, seeds or leaves.

Native to the Caucasus Mountain range in Asia, Hogweed was introduced to other parts of the world through collections in botanical gardens where its escape into other areas proved easy.

The Great Smoky Mountain region, with its miles of wild areas and abundant varieties of vegetation, just might prove the perfect incubator for the monstrous plant which produces some 100,000 seeds annually that are then spread by the wind or running water and can remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years.

Best advice is do not come into contact with any part of this plant and if you think you have identified a Giant Hogweed contact the UT Agriculture extension office at 865-974-7114

Smoky Mountain Parsons Branch Road Opens

Smoky Mountain Parsons Branch Road Opens after a six year closure. GSMNP officials celebrated the reopening of Parson Branch Road with a ribbon-cutting event honoring the work crew and Friends of the Smokies who provided funding. The historic gravel road, originally constructed in 1838, is now reopened to the public after a six-year closure. 

Continue reading…

Smoky Mountain Volunteers Needed

Ramsey Cascades in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the tallest waterfalls accessible by trail in the park!
Ramsey Cascades in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the tallest waterfalls accessible by trail in the park!

Smoky Mountain Volunteers Needed! GSMNP is searching for volunteers to assist Trails Forever trail crews. Work will concentrate on the Ramsey Cascades Trail rehabilitation project. Volunteers are needed every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., starting Wednesday, May 25, 2022, and continuing through Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Volunteers must register in advance.  

Continue reading…