Bear activity

Bear Activity Summary: Recently, the most significant damage to visitors’ property in Yosemite occurred in wilderness areas. Always store your food and any scented items in a locked bear canister while in wilderness areas since bears can come through camp any time of day or night.

In Yosemite Valley, bear activity was focused in picnic areas and campgrounds. A bear successfully obtained food from visitors on several occasions in picnic areas after visitors walked away from their food for a short amount of time. In Valley campgrounds, bears ate campers’ food after they failed to store it in a food storage locker. Always keep food in arm's reach or in a secured locker. Be sure to take food with you when you walk away, even if you plan to leave for only a short time. If you see a bear during your visit, please report it to the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322.

Bi-Weekly Total # of Incidents and Damage:

• Parking Logs: 1, $20
• Campgrounds: 4, $115
• Other Areas: 2, $55
• Residential : 0, $0
• Wilderness: 2. $460

Year to Date Comparisons for the Week of May 24th – June 6th, 2015

• 1998 Incidents: 338; 2015 Incidents: 29, Percent Change: -91.42%
• 2014 Incidents: 42; 2015 Incidents: 29, Percent Change -30.95%
• 1998 Damages: $161,065; 2015 Damages: $1,775, Percent Change: -98.90%
• 2014 Damages: $1,801; 2015 Damages: $1,775, Percent Change: -1.44%

Red Bear, Dead Bear: So far this year, 3 bears have been hit by vehicles including a cub that was killed along the Glacier Point Road. Please protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and paying attention while driving.
Interesting Bear Fact: Bears are excellent climbers and cubs scramble up trees to avoid danger.

Other Wildlife Sightings: Several mountain lions have been reported throughout the park recently including: El Portal neighborhood, Wawona Campground, and Yosemite Valley. 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.