Bear Activity Summary: Bears are active in all areas of the park, and have been reported this week in Yosemite Valley, El Portal, Foresta, and Tuolumne Meadows. Bears have consistently been reported in wilderness areas this season. This week, bears obtained food from backpackers that either left food in packs unattended or left food out in their site. A bear at Sunrise Creek Junction also was able to scare visitors away from their dinner by walking towards them. Always store food and scented items inside a latched canister. Keep camp tidy when cooking so if a bear approaches, it is possible to gather food and lock it in the canister while attempting to scare the bear away.

A bear continues to be active in both Tuolumne Campground and in parking areas. This week a bear broke into cars along the Soda Springs Road and Cathedral Lake Trailhead parking. A bear also obtained improperly stored food multiple times from Tuolumne Campground. When camping in Yosemite, always keep food within arm’s reach when it is not in a food locker, and be sure to securely latch your locker whenever you leave the campsite.

In Foresta, a bear approached a residence but was scared off before it could gain entry to the house. Protect your residence by leaving windows and doors open in only in occupied rooms, and never when you are away from home. If you are home and a bear approaches your residence, attempt to scare the bear away by yelling and making noise. If you see a bear during your visit please report it to the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322.

So far this year there have been 97 bear incidents with a total of $6,261 in damage. Of these incidents, 51 have been in frontcountry areas, and 46 have been in wilderness areas. Compared to 1998, incidents are down by 92 percent, and damage is down by 99 percent. Compared to last year, incidents are down by 22 percent, and damage is down by 82 percent.

Weekly Incidents by Location:
1 – Foresta
1 – Illilouette Canyon
1 – Lyell Canyon
5 – Tuolumne Meadows
5 – Sunrise Creek Junction on the John Muir Trail

Red Bear, Dead Bear: This week one bear was hit by a car along Tioga Road near White Wolf. This year, 14 bears have been hit by vehicles. Please protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and paying attention while driving.

Interesting Bear Fact: In autumn, bears triple their intake of calories compared to summertime.