The Great Smoky Mountains lie like a group of slumbering giants along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in the south-east of the United States.
This vast mountain range, named after the natural ‘smoky’ fog that often sits in the valleys and around the peaks, is almost entirely protected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
According to the National Park Service, “Over 19,000 species have been documented in the park and scientists believe an additional 80,000-100,000 species may live here”, making the ‘Smokies’ the most biodiverse park in the US national park system.
Large animals that live within the range include black bears, elk and white-tailed deer. Then there are the smaller – yet no less spectacular – creatures, such as chipmunks, bats, newts, owls and bluebirds.
These 15 photos capture the beauty of wild animals in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains wildlife
Two black bear cubs wait for their mother in the safety of a tree canopy. Credit: Marcia Straub/Getty Images
Forest fireflies captured at dusk. Credit: Nan Zhong/Getty Images
Elk wander through golden autumn grass near Cherokee. Credit: Teresa Kopec/Getty Images
A turkey foraging among wildflowers at Cades Cove. Credit: Kelly VanDellen/Getty Images
A young black bear with a pensive stare. Credit: Bill Boss/Getty Images
An owl finds a perch in Elkmont. Credit: Alisha Bube/Getty Images
Nap time for this big black bear. Credit: Marcia Straub/Getty Images
Wildflowers bloom at Newfound Gap. Credit: ehrlif/Getty Images
An eastern bluebird taking a break. Credit: m-kojot/Getty Images
A red-spotted newt on the damp forest floor. Credit: Robert Cable/Getty Images
An inquisitive black bear at Cades Cove. Credit: Yivven Z/Getty Images
Female elk lie low in a frosty meadow. Credit: Kathy Gasper/Getty Images
A parula warbler sings its springtime song. Credit: Wildnerdpix/Getty Images
Deer grazing in a field at sunrise. Credit: Blue Barron Photo/Getty Images
A large black bear searches for autumn acorns. Credit: Jared Lloyd/Getty Images
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