Bears have been active in Yosemite Valley in meadows, parking lots, and campgrounds. Bears have also been active in the White Wolf area along Tioga Rd. Make sure to always be within arm’s reach of food and scented items while in picnic areas and campgrounds. Several incidents have occurred because visitors were too far from these items. Please report all bear incidents and sightings to a ranger or the Bear Hotline.
Thirteen bears have been hit by vehicles so far this year. Four bears were hit in one week at the end of July along Tioga, Glacier Point, and Wawona Roads. Of the thirteen that were hit, four were confirmed to be dead. Please obey speed limits and scan roadsides while driving to ensure the safety of bears and other wildlife.
Interesting Bear Fact: The omnivorous diet of the black bear consists mainly of vegetation despite being classified in the Order Carnivora. In the summer months however, black bears will occasionally seek another food source that is difficult to obtain: fawns of Mule deer. Fawns are difficult to find due to their lack of scent, but can provide valuable nutrition to black bears. Fawns and carrion are the two main sources of meat in the diet of the black bear.
If you see a bear during your visit please report it to the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 (National Park Service – www.nps.gov/yose).