Pre 1900's - 1920's | 1930's |1940's |1950's |1960's | 1970's |1980's |1990's | 2000's

Back to the Smokies Timeline

After almost 50 years of stabilization provided by the NPS, the ecosystems previously ravaged by logging and wildfire in the Smokies had been able to heal. After projects restored park facilities in the 50s and 60s and scientists studied and aided in restoring native plant and animal species in the 70s, the next three decades in the park history would host a new kind of project.

Peregrine Falcons

Like the American Bald Eagle, the pesticide DDT heavily affected Peregrine Falcons. During the period of heavy DDT usage, the park lost one of its largest and most efficient predatory birds. 12 years after the widespread use of DDT was banned in 1972, the staff and GSMNP released 4 Peregrine Falcons in the Greenbrier area of the park.

Over the years, several more were released into the park as well, and although the birds are often quite difficult to track, the park was able to find some of the nesting locations of several pairs. In 1997 the first successful breeding pair of Falcons in the park since 1943 fledged 3 chicks near Alum Cave Bluff. According to park wildlife biologists, there are still several birds living in the area.

River Otters

Beginning as early as European Settlement in the Southern Appalachians, trapping of River Otters for the fur trade was extremely common. The animals that were once common in watersheds all over the park were eventually trapped and hunted to extinction in the area that is now the park.

Reintroduction efforts began in the Smokies in 1986, with the release of 10 otters into the Abrams Creek near Cades Cove. The animals were tracked to determine where they were going and how they were adapting to their new homes. Reintroduction efforts continued into the 90s with over 100 more otters released into the watersheds of the Smokies.

Although it is still rare to see an otter because of their swift speed and reclusive nature around humans, the population is nearing carrying capacity. According to park staff.

Elk

Elk once roamed the eastern United States, including the southern Appalachian Mountains. Over hunting and loss of habitat eliminated elk from the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas but the late 1700s in North Carolina and the mid-1800s in Tennessee. By 1900, the population of elk in North America was so strained that hunting groups and conservation organizations became concerned the species would become extinct.>

In 2001, reintroduction efforts began with the reintroduction of 25 elk in Cataloochee Valley area of the park, followed by additional animals in 2002, marking the beginning of the five-year experimental phase of the project.

In 2007, the herd size had increased to approximately 75 adults and 11 calves.