Southeastern Outdoors

05/27/2026

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/27/asia/laos-flooded-cave-rescue-intl

Five of the seven villagers trapped for a week in a flooded cave in Laos have been found alive, rescuers said on Wednesday.

05/26/2026

An injured climber pinned under a massive 16,000-pound boulder on Oregon's Mount Hood was rescued and airlifted to safety. Recovery is expected.

05/23/2026

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/bison-kills-70-year-old-woman-in-custer-state-park/amp/

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A 70-year-old hiker has died after being struck by a bull bison on a popular hiking trail in Custer State Park on Monday. According to the South Dakota Game Fish an…

04/30/2026

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/2-mystery-deaths-zion-national-park-prompt-urgent-questions-about-visitor-safety

Two hikers have died within days of each other at Utah's Zion National Park, sparking renewed concerns about the risks of desert hiking and steep trails.

02/09/2026

🚨Wildfire Alert🚨

The U.S. Forest Service is actively responding to the Winding Stairs Alpha Fire on the Nantahala Ranger District in the Nantahala National Forest. The wildfire is burning south of the Winding Stairs Gap area in Macon County off Highway 64. Firefighters are on scene working to contain the fire, so members of the public should avoid this area. The fire is moving up slope through hardwood leaf litter on steep, rocky terrain. Crews are constructing handline to allow for heavy equipment such as dozier to strengthen and build containment lines. Smoke is particularly visible from the city of Franklin, North Carolina, and surrounding areas and may impact air quality. Exercise caution.

12/09/2025

Where do the bears go when it gets cold? They go to sleep! Well… most of the time.

While American black bears do sleep during the winter, they aren’t considered true hibernators. Instead, they enter a lighter state of rest called torpor. Torpor is a state of hibernation, just less intense with a few differences.

Here’s how torpor compares to true hibernation:

🟡 Similarities
– Like true hibernators, black bears don’t eat, drink, urinate, or defecate while in torpor.
– Both torpor and true hibernation occur in winter, when food is scarce.
– In both states, body temperature drops, and breathing, heart rate, and metabolism slow down.

⚫ Differences
– True hibernators drop their body temperature dramatically, but black bears only lower theirs by 10–15°F.
– Black bears can wake up if disturbed or during warmer winter spells.
– Some animals, like hummingbirds, only enter torpor for the night, while true hibernation usually lasts for months.

Black bears usually den in hollow stumps, tree cavities, or under rock ledges. But in the Smokies, they’re unique — they often den high above ground in standing hollow trees!

Want to learn more about black bears? Check out our website: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/black-bears.htm

NPS Photo: A bear under anesthesia lies blindfolded to reduce visual stimulation during a den visit by park rangers, who are replacing the battery in her GPS collar during the winter. Her cub can be seen hiding in the background.

10/12/2025

Our replica WWI trench underwent recent renovations and is now re-opened to the public! One of the added benefits of the restoration project is that our all-terrain chair can now pass through the entire length of the trench! Come visit us and experience the "front lines" at Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park!

08/28/2025

https://www.foxnews.com/tech/ai-drone-finds-missing-hikers-remains-mountains-after-10-months

Recovery team in Italy use AI-enabled drones to detect missing hiker's red helmet, leading to successful recovery after months of ground searches

08/19/2025

Join us on National Dog Day for a 1-mile hike on the River Trail to learn what it takes to become a B.A.R.K Ranger and demonstrate those paw-ifications to earn your BFSP B.A.R.K Ranger tag!
This hike is recommended for dogs who are ready and able to demonstrate the four principles of being a B.A.R.K Ranger:
Bag your pet’s waste and dispose of it properly.
Always wear a leash.
Respect wildlife and park visitors.
Know where you can go.
Each dog and their owner will complete a short checklist while on the River Trail. After the hike we will head to the pavilion to be sworn in as an official B.A.R.K. Ranger.

Registration is required for this program and spots are limited!
For more information or to register, https://tnstateparks.com/parks/event_details/burgess-falls/ #/?event=bfsp-bark-ranger-

08/15/2025

“I don’t know that he would have made it another 24 hours without us recovering him.”