Wildlife is a major attraction of the Smokies. Looking for bears is a popular activity. There are numerous deer in Cades Cove and elsewhere. Red Wolves have also been released in the park. There are wild boar in the park, but they are considered a nuisance, since they don't belong there.
Bobcats are present as well.
I also saw a mountain lion near Newfound Gap one winter, though the rangers will tell you there aren't any, because none of them has seen one yet. The Smokies were mostly populated before the park opened, so there is a lot of history in the park, including old cabins and mills, and an occasional old car along the trails. Some relatively recent ruins can be found at Proctor, on Fontana Lake. Sometimes you can come upon people who used to live in the park. I met some playing music by a creek once, and the park sponsors Old Timer's Days in Cades Cove for bluegrass music and reunions.