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Yosemite bear - photo by Keith Sauer

Bear Incidents In Yosemite At All Time Low

YOSEMITE — Since 1998 when bear incidents in Yosemite reached an all-time high, park officials and Yosemite Conservancy have worked diligently to educate the public, implement new policies, and provide bear-resistant containers for hikers and campers.

In 1998, there were approximately 1,600 incidents resulting in $660,000 in property damage. In 2016, bear incidents total just 17, with 7 additional garbage incidents, and property damage of just $1,342. That’s a 96 percent reduction.

“A bear incident occurs when a bear causes property damage, obtains food, acts aggressively, or injures a person,” says the National Park Service.

Compared to 2015 — the lowest year on record for bear incidents — bear incidents in 2016 are down by 65 percent and damages are down by 58 percent.

Bear Activity Summary: A bear obtained food from backpackers twice along the John Muir Trail out of Yosemite Valley (Half Dome Junction and Cloud’s Rest Junction). Campers at the Snow Creek footbridge reported that a bear rolled their food storage canister away from their campsite. At Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, a bear obtained food from visitors after they walked away from their food for a short time.

Remember – Bears are active day and night throughout Yosemite. Protect your property and bears by always storing food in a secured food storage locker or food storage canister when camping. Additionally, be vigilant when you are preparing food or hiking and always remain within arm’s reach of any food that is out.

As reported on the NPS website in November 2015, “Things have come a long way since 1998, when dozens of black bears broke into cars and roamed campgrounds looking for food. It was not uncommon on a summer evening for bears to break into 10 to 15 cars. Most of these cars contained food, leading bears to become food conditioned. Additionally, many park visitors failed to store their food properly at campsites and picnic areas.

“The number of incidents escalated for several years in the mid-1990s. National media reported extensively on Yosemite’s human-bear conflicts, which caught the attention of a U.S. representative from California. To help curb the problem and educate park visitors, the congressman secured $500,000 per year for Yosemite to address human-bear conflicts and implement solutions.

“With the high number of human-bear incidents and extensive property damage, the park used the additional funding to decrease incidents by reducing the availability of human food to bears and improving food storage facilities.

“In 2000, the park unveiled the ‘Keep Bears Wild’ campaign, which continues today. The campaign focuses on educating visitors and employees about their responsibility to store food properly while visiting Yosemite. Park rangers continue to educate visitors in person, produce videos, post signs, distribute flyers, and work with the news media to improve public awareness. Delaware North at Yosemite includes messaging in its restaurants and on grocery bags and paper cups. Yosemite Conservancy offers retail products, such as stuffed bears with ear tags containing an educational message, to increase awareness and help fund bear awareness programs.”

Red Bear, Dead Bear: Eleven bears have been hit by vehicles in Yosemite this year. Six of these bears were killed on impact. PLEASE help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.

Fascinating Bear Fact: Black bears use vocalizations that can mean various things including: annoyance, fear, pain, tiredness, threats, and more.

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: Several mountain lions have been reported in Wawona Campground recently. 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.

Source: Yosemite Daily Report (C. Lee-Roney) and https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/human-bear-incidents-reach-record-low-in-yosemite-national-park.htm

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