What's going on in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

What are the Friends of the Smokies working on these days?

And when is the best time to see those elk?  

Join us for some coffee and a friendly chat, and get the inside scoop on Friends of the Smokies-plus, we'll have great information on the elk of Cataloochee Valley!

Asheville  

2 p.m. Monday, April 30

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity

Conference Room

33 Meadow Rd. Asheville

Brevard 

2 p.m. on April 24th

Transylvania County Public Library, Rogow Room

212 S. Gaston Street, Brevard

Bryson City 

1 p.m. on May 2nd

The Historic Calhoun House

135 Everett Street, Bryson City

Hendersonville 

2 p.m. on Monday, May 14th

Community Foundation of Henderson County, Conference Room

401 N. Main Street, Hendersonville

RSVP to hannah@friendsofthesmokies.org or (828) 452-0720

• Install Elk Exclosures to Monitor Impacts on Park Vegetation $ 3,000

One requirement of the Park's long-term Elk Management Plan is the continued monitoring of elk impacts on vegetation. These fenced plots keep elk out to allow botanists to compare the plant composition of grazed vs. un-grazed plots to determine what species are consumed and to what degree.

• Support for the All-Volunteer Elk Bugle Corps $ 2,100

During the peak visitation periods for elk-viewing in the Cataloochee area of the park, a team of dedicated volunteers provides interpretive and safety information to park visitors to enhance their viewing experience while helping to preserve the natural behavior patterns of the elk herd.

Elk Bugle Corps Volunteers with Park Visitors

Your purchase of "Yona"- our North Carolina license bear- for your vehicles will support elk conservation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as black bear protection, and other important Smokies needs.

More information on our website.