Steve Thompson, the recently retired chief of the park’s wildlife management branch, died in an auto accident on the night of Tuesday, August 26th.

August 28, 2014 - Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher sent out the following note yesterday regarding his death:

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the passing of Steve Thompson, our recently retired Branch Chief of Wildlife Management. He died last night in an unfortunate car accident. Steve worked in Yosemite for over 25 years and left a legacy of work that will positively impact the park and the Sierra for many, many years.

Steve is best known for his work on the Bear Management Program in the park. When he arrived in Yosemite in 1989, Steve was alarmed at the exceptionally high rate of incidents and property damage caused by bears. He astutely realized that the problem was a human issue, and not a bear issue, and sought to educate the public about proper food storage.  Steve established the Yosemite Bear Council (an interdisciplinary group devoted to public education about proper food storage), which is still active today. With Steve's vision and the work of the park staff, bear incidents and property damage have been significantly reduced.

He also led the effort to restore high-elevation aquatic ecosystems and championed saving the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and the Yosemite toad from extinction. He also built the Terrestrial Biodiversity Program and was an active participant in the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group.

Steve has made a dramatic difference for wildlife during his 25 years in Yosemite National Park. Future visitors can thank Steve for enabling them to once again hear the lovely call of the Sierra Nevada yellow legged frog among the alpine lakes of Yosemite, observe black bears within a wild context or perhaps if they are lucky, see a bighorn sheep, great grey owl or Pacific fisher.

Steve retired from the National Park Service in January of this year. Steve's wife, Sue Beatty, serves as a Restoration Ecologist in the Division of Resources Management and Science.  Steve and Sue raised their son, Ryan, in Yosemite Valley.

Details about a memorial service are pending.