Bear Facts September 1-17

2022 Total Bear Incidents: 25
2022 Total Property Damage: $1792

Bear Incident Comparisons (year to date—previous years compared to 2022):
Last year (2021) - Down 50%
Most incidents (1998) - Down 98%
Fewest Incidents (2019) - Up 19%

Bear Activity Summary: As summer starts to cool down in Yosemite, black bears are preparing for winter. Bears in the Sierra Nevada will soon enter hyperphagia—a state where bear appetites increase dramatically and they will eat as many as 20,000 calories and for as many as twenty hours per day to put on weight for the winter. This increased appetite can push bears to look for food where people are.

There have been two incidents since late August of bears entering buildings including an unsecured garage and an exterior storage closet. It is extra important this time of year as the outside temperatures drop to make sure buildings are secure to prevent bears from breaking into buildings. Residents and visitors of Yosemite can protect bears by ensuring that windows and doors are closed and securely latched whenever occupants are not home. Remove window AC units whenever the room is unoccupied. Do not leave open windows unattended overnight, particularly in or near the kitchen.

Red Bear, Dead Bear: So far this year six bears have been hit by vehicles in Yosemite. Help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in the roadway.

Fascinating Bear Facts: Even though bears mate in the early summer, the fertilized embryo does not implant in the mother bear’s uterine wall until fall. This is a reproductive strategy to make sure that the mother bear has enough fat storage to carry a litter to term.

Other Wildlife: Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are entering the rut (mating season) in Yosemite. Bucks are shedding their velvet, sharpening their antlers, and are more prone to aggressive behavior this due to hormonal fluctuations. Be sure to stay a minimum of 25 yards or two shuttle buses away from any deer.