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Listen for the Winter Wren's long melodious song.

Spotted Salamanders lay their eggs in ponds and pools.

Male deer drop their antlerss

Black bears are in their winter dens.

Listen for the Spring Peepers and Chorus Frogs calling from wetlands. Mourning Doves are courting.

Wood Frogs lay their eggs -- watch for them on warm rainy nights.

Black bear cubs are born.

Louisiana Waterthrush, Black an White Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler arrive in Park.

Elk shed their antlers. River otter pups are born. Bears emerge from their winter dens.

The majority of warblers and other neotropical migratory birds arrive in Park.

Bobcat kittens are born

Black bears are breeding

Deer fawns are born.

Damselflies are often seen flying low over the water

Displaying early fall color: flowering Dogwood, Black Gum, Sourwood, Yellow Birch, American Beech, Pin Cherry

Peak of fall songbird migration is late September; Southbound birds include Swainson's Thrush, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Northern Waterthrus

Listen for elk bugling in Cataloochee Valley

Fall colors peak at the higher elevations early in the month; at the lower and mid-elevations in the second half of the month.

An amazing variety of mushrooms can be seen in the park this month

Listen for Ruffed Grouse drumming; Tree crickets can be heard in the lowlands at night

Fall colors on Oaks at the lower elevations; Spiny fruits on Sweetgum trees

Winter Wrens may be singing; flocks of Pine Siskins may be seen

Brook Trout are spawning by month's end; Monard, Sulfur, and Buckeye butterflies are on the wing

Watch for Purple Finches feeding in tuliptrees. Listen for Eastern Screech Owls calling at dusk.

Black bears enter their winter dens.