Bear Facts

June 27, 2026

updated as often as possible

Bear Incidents

Location

Wilderness: 5

Campgrounds: 7

Parking lots and roadsides: 1

Residential: 3

Other areas: 4

Total: 14

Number of incidents last year: 34

Note: A bear incident occurs when a bear causes a monetary loss to a person--that is, if the bear causes property damage or obtains food. Bear incidents also include cases of bears causing injury to a person (which are fairly uncommon).

Activity Summary

White-stemmed raspberries are in season! With the availability of wild fruit, bears are seen every day on the Yosemite Valley floor. It is very important to keep human food within arm’s reach and to put trash inside a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster. Bears ate human food or trash seven times in Yosemite Valley this week including food from a food locker that was left open or improperly latched. Some bears ate food from trash left out next to trash cans and dumpsters. Bears that get human food and trash can become dangerous and do not get to live long wild lives.

Visitors have also approached to close to bears foraging near roads and trails. This week, a mother bear was separated from one of her two small cubs for eight hours because people continued to approach the bear. In Yosemite, the minimum distance required to stay away from bears is 50 yards (about four shuttle bus lengths). When humans get close to a bear and nothing bad happens, the bear loses its wildness. Staying far away from bears (especially sows with cubs) will protect them and their offspring.

Let us know if you see a bear, no matter where it is or what it's doing. Call 209/372-0322 or send an email.

Slow Down!

Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways. Five bears have been hit by vehicles so far this year. One of these bears died upon impact and another was euthanized by park staff because it was paralyzed. Please slow down!

Fascinating Bear Fact

While American black bears (Ursus americanus) are often black in color elsewhere on the continent, Sierra Nevada black bears are usually shades of brown.

Learn more about bear biology and bear management in Yosemite.

Other Wildlife

Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are the rarest mountain sheep in North America.