The National Park Service has issued a reminder to visitors about the importance of maintaining safe distances from wildlife, particularly elk and black bears, in several U.S. national parks. According to the service, it is against the law to approach within 25 yards of an elk or 50 yards of a black bear. Violations can result in fines or even arrest, with penalties ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. This warning comes as officials in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park have observed increased activity from both elk and black bears this season. Black bears are currently feeding heavily on fall food sources to build up fat reserves for hibernation, consuming up to 20,000 calories a day. This increased activity is also linked to the annual elk breeding season, known as the rut, when male elk experience higher levels of testosterone, which can lead to more aggressive behavior. Elk and black bears are common in many national parks across the U.S., including Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, Olympic National Park in Washington, and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The National Park Service emphasizes that wild animals can be unpredictable, and getting too close can lead to dangerous encounters. While fatalities are extremely rare, there have been incidents in recent years, such as people being mauled by protective mother bears or injured by bison. In July, a grandfather was thrown eight feet into the air by a male bison in Yellowstone, resulting in a broken femur. There have also been multiple bear attacks in Glacier National Park, including one that led to the death of a man from Florida. The service advises visitors who find themselves too close to an approaching elk or black bear to slowly back away. If a black bear continues to follow, visitors should stand their ground, be loud, throw rocks, and continue to move away slowly. If attacked by a black bear, visitors should fight back, but if attacked by an elk, they should seek shelter or a strong protective barrier if possible. If no shelter is nearby, visitors are advised to run away.