Yosemite National Park Red Bear, Dead Bear Sign
These signs in the park are where bears have been hit by vehicles.

2020 Total Bear Incidents: 7
2020 Total Property Damage: $ 1,360

July 27, 2020 - Compared to 2019 (the lowest year on record for number of bear incidents), bear incidents this year are down by 41.7% and property damage is up by 36.7%.

Compared to 1998 (when incidents in the park peaked), bear incidents this year are down by  98.2%, and property damage is down by 99.2%.

Bear Activity Summary:  Bears have been active across the park in recent weeks. Though the majority of Yosemite’s bear incidents have occurred in Wilderness areas this year, much of the recent bear activity and sightings have been concentrated in Yosemite Valley where the ripe berries have drawn bears down to a plentiful food source. Other recent hot spots include Tuolumne Meadows and Snow Creek. At Snow Creek, a bear approached a campsite and destroying a tent and sleeping bag while people were present. Another bear is testing food storage containers to see if they are latched properly by knocking them over in the night. A bear obtained food this way at Sunrise Creek as well. This week bear got food along the John Muir Trail from a backpack that people abandoned when they saw the bear approach. This bear was also reportedly fed by people on the trail. Because of these people’s actions, this bear could alter its natural behaviors to avoid people become a threat to human safety. Please NEVER approach or feed any wildlife in the park, keep your food and backpacks with you when you see a bear, and yell loudly to scare it away.

Red Bear, Dead Bear: Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.

Documented bears hit by vehicles in 2020 — 3 (all in July)

Documented bears killed by vehicles in 2020 — 1

Fascinating Bear Facts:  Bears spend the majority of their lives solitary, with the exception of courting individuals and mothers with their young. Black bear cubs spend about a year and a half with their mother before being sent off on their own. One year old bears (yearlings) are often mistaken for cubs that have lost their mother, when in fact they are on their own already.

For more information visit KeepBearsWild.org

Please report bear incidents and sightings: Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov.
Source: C. Lee-Roney/NPS