Yosemite Bear Facts August 20th to September 2nd, 2017

2017 Total Bear Incidents: 31
2017 Total Property Damage: $1,671

Compared to this same week 2016 (the lowest year on record for bear incidents), bear incidents in 2017 are down by 0% and bear damages are down by 73%. Compared to 1998 (when incidents in the park peaked), bear incidents in 2017 are down by 97%, and damages are down by over 99%.

Bear Activity Summary: The most recent bear incident happened in Yosemite at Ten Lakes when a bear got an apple from a backpack. Bears have also been seen in Yosemite Valley in picnic areas, and trails, and also throughout the wilderness. Although bear activity has slowed down over the past couple of weeks, this is the time of year when bears are starting to prepare for winter hibernation by eating high protein foods like acorns.

It is important to remain vigilant with your food storage to continue to help protect bears. Please make an effort to clean out your vehicles of any food or attractant, close windows in residences, hotel rooms, and other buildings when they are unoccupied, and stay within arm’s reach of any food that you have out in the park unless it’s otherwise stored properly where a bear can’t get to it.

Red Bear, Dead Bear: So far, 19 bears have been hit by vehicles. PLEASE help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.

Fascinating Bear Fact: There are 16 sub-species of the American black bear (Ursus americanus). The California sub-species lives in Yosemite: Ursus americanus californiensis.

Please report bear incidents and sightings: Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov.

Other Wildlife Sightings: Mountain lions have been reported in El Portal, and at Merced Lake this week. For more information on mountain lions in Yosemite National Park, please visit the National Park Service website, http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/mountainlion.htm.