Bear Activity Summary for July 6 to the 26, 2014:

Bear activity has picked up in El Portal. Bears have been seen nightly throughout El Portal communities and multiple vehicles have been broken into. This week bears have entered unoccupied homes that were left unsecured. If you are not home, close all windows and doors and make sure they are secure. Please fix doors and windows that are not able to latch properly. This action can protect you, your property, and help save a bear’s life.

Recently, bears have caused significant damage to property and caused numerous incidents in wilderness areas particularly along the John Muir Trail near Little Yosemite Valley. Never leave packs unattended with food items inside, even if they are in a canister. If you plan on leaving your pack, even for a short time, pull out your canister and place away from packs.

Bears continue to be an active presence in campgrounds throughout the park including in the Tioga corridor campgrounds. Please be aware that bears can enter campsites at any time of day, so be sure to always keep food within arm’s reach and never leave food unattended. If you see a bear during your visit please report it to the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322.

Bi-Weekly Total # of Incidents Damage
Parking Lots 0 $0
Campgrounds 3 $14
Other Areas 2 $25
Residential 4 $648
Wilderness 5 $614
Total 14 $1,301

Year to Date Comparisons for the Weeks of July 6th – July 26th, 2014
1998 2014 Percent Change 2013 2014 Percent Change
Incidents 387 113 -70.80% 69 113 63.77%
Damage $178,739 $4,542 -97.46% $4,408 $4,542 3.04%

Red Bear, Dead Bear: Thirteen bears have been hit by vehicles this year. Three bears were recently hit on Highway 41 near Wawona and another bear was hit along Highway 120 near Crane Flat. Please protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and paying attention while driving.

Interesting Bear Fact: Sanpete County, Utah, holds the world record for the largest black bear skull.

Other Wildlife Sightings: Mountain lions continue to be reported around El Portal and a few have been seen after dark in Yosemite Valley. 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.